SR December-15 issue pdf

COVER STORY ||||| CELEBRATIONS
DEVESH ARORA
CABIN CREW, DELHI
There are many beautiful things I
associate with Christmas – happiness,
holidays and, of course, gifts. Every
December 25, I go to the church. It’s
fun being on a flight on the day. You
wear Santa caps and take photos with
kids. It feels so good to see them
happy and smiling. It is also wonderful
to see grown-ups enjoying. Suddenly
it’s no longer about taking them from
point A to B. It is much more than that.
AHMAD NABIL
CABIN CREW, DELHI
The best thing about Christmas is that
there is so much calmness around it. I
once went to a church on Christmas
and it was one of the most peaceful
experiences of my life. At SpiceJet, we
have many colleagues who celebrate
Christmas, and it is a joy joining them
in their celebrations. In the two years I
have been here, it has been a joyful
experience wearing Santa caps and
greeting passengers on our flights.
stores burst with Christmas decorations
and traditional Christmas sweets a few
weeks before Christmas. Damian, a
furniture store in the area, is a popular
stopover for visitors and locals alike,
who spend time taking in its elaborate
Christmas-themed window display.
Meticulously designed cribs can be
spotted at every corner when you walk
down the tiny cobblestoned lanes of
Ranwar, Chapel Road, Waroda Road and
Chuim, where crib contests showcase
the creative talents of each locality.
Further north, it’s worth making a trip
to St. Francis d’Assisi church in Borivali,
reputed for its larger-than-life depiction
of the nativity scene.
The Mumbai Christmas Fest,
organised since 2006 by the German
Consulate and Indo-German Chamber
of Commerce, Mumbai, is a popular way
for families to soak up the Christmas
cheer. This year, the event will be held
on December 3 and 4 at the Royal
Western India Turf Club in Mahalaxmi,
where a Santa’s corner, and activities
such as skating, bubble shows and kids’
workshops, will provide wholesome
entertainment for the young ones.
Authentic German cuisine including
sausages, cheese and a host of
traditional Christmas desserts along
with plenty of shopping opportunities
set the tone for the season.
Midnight Mass in Mumbai
The sweet sound of carols wafts
through homes, stores and restaurants
closer to Christmas day, and on
Christmas Eve, angelic choirs welcome
the faithful into churches like Mount
Mary’s Basilica, Holy Name Cathedral,
St. Michael’s Church, and Sacred Heart
Church for midnight Mass. Christmas
Day begins with the exchange of gifts
among family and close friends who
come together for a hearty Christmas
lunch of roast chicken, bakes, potato
chops and plum pudding. Christmas
reaches its peak in Mumbai at muchawaited
dinner-and-dance events like
the Christmas dance at the Bandra
Gymkhana.
GREETINGS FROM GOA
Goa is a popular destination, be it
summer, monsoon or winter. But the
state, undoubtedly, has the largest
inflow of tourists in December, when
the weather is cooler and a celebratory
air is all around. When in Goa, nothing
compares to experiencing the season of
Christmas just as the Goans do.
NOW FLYING
SpiceJet has daily, direct flights to
Goa from Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi,
Hyderabad and Mumbai. Log on to
www.spicejet.com for more details
56 ||||| DECEMBER 2016