What’s a good way to spend your Christmas evening, especially when it falls on a Monday, and the holiday spirits have been with you a whole long weekend. Well, one of the movie channels reccomended watching Richard Curtis’ “Love Actually” for the nth time… for once, I agreed! Very nice movie indeed…
But, that movie wasn’t the only heart-warming viewing of this weekend. Midnight on Christmas eve, I had a sudden urge to slip into my shoes, and take a walk past the Methodical Church around the corner. The church of course, was splendidly decorated in a warm, yet not over-zealous display of holiday lighting and floral arrangements. The choir was playing a mellow tune, and the ambiance was one of serene beauty. It was as I walked back home though, that I saw something even more beautiful. The road I chose to take leads through what is best described as a semi-slum. The residents of this dingy locality were however waving in the festivities with a greater zest. A hastily constructed shamiana protected a “loudspeaker”, that was humming carols in a slightly broken, but certainly cheerful tone. Rangolis were being drawn up on the street, in front of each ramshackle house – stars and christmas trees were clearly outlined, and Santa was being dressed up in the corner. A few kids came to the party, with their share of ammunition, by firing off a few multi-hued “rockets”.
Well, there are things that we Indians are good at, and things that we aren’t, but adding zest and colour to a celebration is an instinct that perhaps runs through our veins!
