Religion & Culture
The euphoria of Chirstmas is all around in the otherwise sleepy city of Bangalore.
Once in a while the Bangaloreans do wake up to the call of Miss World, CSI et al.
But, christmas - the last festival in the almanac which paves the way for the
new year is being celebrated by people from all walks of life.
No Bangalorean would wish to miss the mid-night mass on Christmas eve at Saint Patrick's Church. One has to literally battle for a seat with the thousands who would have come there to attend the mass. The next battle is for the turkeys from "Koshy's".
The Koshy's offer a traditional Christmas lunches and dinners - roast turkey with stuffing, plum pudding with brandy butter sauce, you name it and you have it.
The next stop should be at those little known bakeries in the by-lanes of
Shivaji Nagar. They make yummy Christmas pudding the way they used to way
back in 1954. This is not all. Just take a stroll in Ibrahim Sahib Street or
S Ramalingam Street, they are adorned with all the fineries of the christmas
season and they might even give the fairer sex a complex.
After being known as the Garden City, the Silicon Valley - now it is `Pubbers Paradise'. What else can explain the fact, there's something called a "Pub-Heaval" which promises frenzy at two Bangalore pubs with roulette, darts, jackpot and cards - all for amusement only. To beat'em all `The Underground' pub threw open their gates for the festivity as early as December 19th even before the Bangaloreans applied for their annual leaves.
There it goes again - the festival discount. To lure the customers the businessmen offer special gift coupons too. But nothing is sinful during this season.
No matter how poor and lonely you are, just hang out in M G Road or Brigade Road or Commercial Street or .... well it doesn't make a difference as the festive mood is in the air. So, be a part of it and spread the message of hope, joy and love across the globe.
