Mumbai: With red Santa Claus caps, reindeer masks, lanterns, decorative lights, the city streets are ready to welcome Christmas. Churches in Bandra, Mahim, Colaba and other parts of the city are decorated and are preparing for midnight mass on Sunday. The gift shops, cake shops are in much demand and restaurants are filled with youngsters.
The residents of De Monte and Bandra Gymkhana road have put up seven gifts and twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit. The road has a narrow stretch which houses Portuguese-styled bungalows on both the sides. Coloured gifts have been put up on the wall and outside the gate of the villas with messages on it. This, according to the residents is a kind of “blessing” which they want to pass on to the people who come across the road.
“We decorate our house for Christmas with colours and gifts for our friends and families. We wish to do the same for everyone as all people are God’s children,” said Friedrich Francis, a resident. According to the residents, this culture has been followed by the people in De Monte sector since a couple of years now. The gifts contain elements of Church and the Holy Bible.
“Some of elements are kindness, courage, love, peace, joy, bliss, glory, patience, grace, hope, mercy etc, that we wish the people to follow and understand. This way, we will spread positive vibes, hope and goodness among the people and also our children,” said John Amelia, another resident. Each villa has been given one of the elements which they put up outside their house.
Adjacent to this De Monte lane, are some of the finest churches in the city like Mount Mary, St. Peter’s and St. Andrews where the Goan Christians community go for the Holy Mass on Christmas following which they share plum cakes, fruit pies, toffees, sweets, wine, etc with each other.
