SunstarTV Bureau: December is all about Christmas and gifts. Every generation, from younger to older age, everyone eagerly waits for arrival of this joyous day.
Everyone has their unique way of celebrating Christmas. Some celebrate it at their houses with family and friends or with their love ones, while other celebrates it as a vacation, away from routine bound life.
These are some of the best places in India to celebrate your Christmas in an unparalleled way.
Goa
Goa is known for its excellent beaches and legendary nightlife. Undoubtedly Goa is the best place to celebrate Christmas in India. With its Portuguese legacy and Catholic population Christmas here is celebrated with a gripping fervor. The churches and homes are decorated with beautiful lights and poinsettia flowers while children sing Christmas carol late into the night. People of all age’s line up at the churches to take part in midnight mass.
The Christmas in Goa is very famous for the exuberant ambience. This also happens to attract thousands of tourists from different part of the country and abroad, to its shore to witness this festival in all its colors.
Shillong
This amazing north-eastern city in Meghalaya has a considerable population of Christians who celebrate the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ with some pomp and glory, which makes it a wonderful place to celebrate Christmas. The streets, the churches and the homes are decorated with beautiful lights and one can easily feel the excitement in the air.
The midnight mass sees huge crowds pour in to the churches of the city with bands playing soulful gospel music. The beauty of the region, its food and the general excitement for Christmas makes being here a memorable experience.
Pondicherry
It is a fascinating little union territory just off the Tamil Nadu coast. The ‘Little France’ as it is known in those parts of the country is gifted with some wonderful architecture, beautiful beaches and delightful French cuisine. Having a French lineage there are a lots of Christians here who celebrate Christmas with great zeal following all the traditional rituals and merry-making.
The churches, especially the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart of Jesus are stunningly decorated and they are some of most beautifully decorated churches during Christmas celebration in India, offering midnight mass which sees the whole town gathers at these churches. Celebrating Christmas here is a great choice as one can relax at the beach, enjoy the stunning marine life and experience the festivities at their best.
Kerala
One can have a complete experience while having a holiday in Kerala during Christmas. The state has a very strong Christian population with countless churches across the state. The famous holiday is celebrated with great vigor across the state as people decorate their houses, the churches and the street with lightings and other materials.
The churches whether big or small remain open throughout the night and thousands of people gather at churches across the state to sing midnight mass. Besides being part of the festivities one can do so much from visiting the backwaters of Kerala to its lovely beaches, from shopping for spices to exploring the Western Ghats. It’s truly the best time to visit Kerala.
Mumbai
Mumbai is synonymous with a fast-paced life yet the city, which has a rich colonial past and has been the receiving point of many immigrants, is pretty famous for its Christmas celebration in India. The western suburb of Bandra is a place to see in Mumbai during Christmas.
It is known for its Catholic population and the Hill Road is stunningly decorated with flowers and lighting during the Christmas time. One can also spot decorated Christmas trees on the pavement of the Hill Road which the local families put up in spirit of the festival. The churches in the city are also beautifully lit up and decorated with people from all religious backgrounds seen enjoying with their friends and family.
