Festivities on till Epiphany Day

We all are in the middle of the festive season. Time when Santa Claus made his way down the chimney or came driving down the sledge.
Stockings filled with presents; Christmas trees were all lit up with glittering lights colourful ribbons and shining stars; dancing, partying and merry making - the silent nights no longer calm and quite.
Fun and gaiety is still in the air, with X-Mas celebrations set to be over on Epiphany Day (January 6).
Christmas today has become a universal festival the world over. It has overcome national, religious and social barriers to become a global celebration, which lasts from December 14 to January 6. And in between X-Mas festivities, we also bid adieu to the old year and usher in the new year.
Keeping up with the festive spirit East Delhi and its markets are all decorated and decked up. One can spot the old gentleman in red, with a white flowing beard and twinkling eyes smiling down on you from many a shop windows. The residents including the non-Christians are celebrating the season with enthusiasm. Says Sundaree Ramji, a resident of Vidyut Apartments, I.P. Extension, “We celebrate for the fun sake of my two children. Christmas has an element of surprise, which makes it a special festival. None of the Indian festivals can match the excitement received from peeling off gift wrappers given by Santa. The children remain creatively busy decorating the home.�
The credit goes to the cartoon network for popularizing Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas amongst children, bringing with him a sack full of goodies. Though the little ones remain awestruck of the existence of the Santa, it’s time for the not so young kids to get Pokemon cards or games CDs without pleading and coaxing. The parents as middlepersons would sure convey their demands to the Santa. The elders, on the pretext of taking out their children, savour the feel of festivity. The college goers like Aishwarya, doing her law course from Amity freaks out with her friends in the carnival in CP. The residents of many apartments in this part of the town celebrated Christmas with a community spirit by holding a combined dinner.
However, the Christians like Josephine Barretto decorated the Christmas crib and the tree with the religious fervour. Josephine along with her family attended the midnight mass and Christmas feast at the nearby church.
The children imbibe from their English medium education, which emphasizes the festival as a gentle reminder - be charitable. All almost all schools had a grand Christmas sharing party and some even gift hampers were distributed to poor children.