Rekha+Kapoor

__//**MERRY CHRISTMAS from India **//__



About us **Des Raj Vedhara, DAV Centenary Public(sr sec) School, Phillaur**, is a premier institution of the Doaba Region of Punjab.It is a radiant gem in the ring of more than 700 DAV institutions which provide quality education not only in India but also abroad. It is directly under the control of DAV Colleges Managing Committee, New Delhi. Opened in the year 1986 when the DAV Movement had completed a century of selfless service in the field of education, Our school came into existance because of the farsighted vision of Sh. Yash Paul Vedhara who donated money in the sacred memory of his father,Lala Des Raj Vedhara Now our school has a magnificient double & triple storey buildings with all ultra-modern facilities, imparting quality education to more than 1500 students. However because of its consistently excellent academic result, our school has been the Very Good Category by DAV College managing ,Commiittee, New Delhi. Our school has witnessed a rapid growth in academics, sports & co-curricular activities **//Affiliated to CBSE, our school is much sought after among the students and their parents because excellence is our forte and we never compromise with quality//** =Christmas in India = Compared to other religious festivals, Christmas is quite a small festival in Indiadue to the number that are Christians (2.3%) compared to people who belong to other religions. Having said this the population ofIndiais over 1 Billion, so there are over 25 million Christians inIndia! One of the largest Christian Communities, inIndia, is in Bombay. A lot of the Christians in Mumbai (previously known asBombay) are Roman Catholics. Many different languages are spoken in India. In Hindi and Urdu Happy/Merry Christmas is **'Bade Din ki Mubarak'**; in Sanskrit it's **'Krismasasya shubhkaamnaa'**; in Bengali **'Barodiner shubhechha janai'**; in Tamil it's **'Christhu Jayanthi Nalvaalthukal'** and in Konkani it's **'Khushal Borit Natala'**

**Christmas Tree **Instead of having traditional Christmas Tree, a banana or mango tree is decorated. Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes.InSouthern India, Christians often put small oil burning clay lamps on the flat roofs of their homes to show their neighbours that Jesus is the light of the world. **Santa Claus**In India, **Father Christmas or Santa Claus** delivers presents to children from a horse and cart. He's known as **'Christmas Baba'** in Hindi, **'Baba Christmas'** in Urdu (both of those mean Father Christmas); **'Christmas Thaathaa'** in Tamil and Telugu and **'Natal Bua'** in Marathi.

**Christmas Euphoria in India -**Euphoria for Christmas in India is largely based on the American media depiction. Days before the festival markets take a colorful look as they are decorated with traditional Christmas trees, stars, images of Santa, balloons and festoons. Gift marketers too create hype for Christmas by launching a rigorous advertising campaign through newspapers, radio and television. Schools run by Christian missionaries celebrate Christmas by organizing nativity plays which depict the birth of Jesus Christ. Carols, songs and dramas make these celebrations even more joyful. Even non-Christian students enthusiastically participate in such celebrations.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">**Preparations for Christmas in India** In Christian households, preparations for Christmas begin atleast a month in advance. People get their homes whitewashed and indulge in spring cleaning of the house to give it a fresh new look. Ladies start preparations for the **traditional Christmas cake** which is anxiously awaited not just by the entire family but also by the neighbors!! Hectic shopping activity takes place as everyone buys new clothes for the festival. Christmas Gifts are also bought for friends, relatives and kids in the family. Biggest festival for Christians - Christmas is also the time for family reunions. People staying in different cities for job or higher studies rush back to their homes to celebrate Christmas with their near and dear ones.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** Christmas Celebrations in Different Parts of India --**Customs for Christmas celebrations vary in the vast expanse of India. These variations are largely because of the local cultural influence. In South India, for instance, Christians light clay lamps on the rooftops and walls of their houses, the same way as Hindus decorate their homes during the Diwali Festival. Besides, in several states of India a popular custom is to decorate banana or mango tree instead of traditional pine tree. In northwest India, the tribal Christians of the Bhil tribe go out night after night for a week during Christmas to sing their equivalent of carols the whole night through. In Mumbai, which has one of the largest Roman Catholic communities in India, there is a tradition to depict nativity scenes and decorate home with big stars.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Christmas in Goa --**Most exhilarating celebration of Christmas can be seen in the vivacious state ofGoa. A large number of domestic and international tourists flock to the beaches Goa during Christmas festival to watchGoa at its cultural best. One can also regale in the best ofGoa music and dance during Christmas festivities. Catholics inGoa participate in the traditional midnight mass services locally called Missa de Galo or Cock Crow as they go on well into early hours of the morning. The Carnival, preceding Lent, is the most important event atGoa. This is similar to Mardi Gras inNew Orleans.