Christmas gets secular in amche Puneridom

DEAREST Santa, this Christmas, please send me a tiny little sister. And don’t forget to send a box of chocolates too,� seven-year-old Chetna Shivde writes in Marathi to her “best friend� Santa, as her parents Ramesh and Archana Shivde smile at her enthusiasm.
“I think Santa will like my letter the best,� says the tiny tot with confidence, “So what if it’s in Marathi? Santa knows every language.� The Shivde family will celebrate Christmas for the first time this year with a big cake and a tree, as most of Chetna’s classmates will do, despite their religion.School kids in Pune seem to be playing a major role in making Christmas a mass, secular festival, as the Santa magic allures all children equally. Puneri families in typically Marathi localities are opening up to Christmas, till now a Camp-centric festival.
Narendra Kulkarni, a lawyer and Amruta, his chartered accountant wife, declare their plans to invite Santa to their Tilak Road residence too.
“My four-year old son Saumitra was excited by the idea of a wish-fulfilling tree, when his nursery teacher told him about Christmas.�
It’s the same with Madhuri Naravne, who works as a teacher in a reputed English medium school in the city. “Many of my Maharashtrian students were curious about Christmas, so I offered to take them to mass and have a little party at home. Surprisingly, some of their parents also showed interest in coming with us.� Naravne says that children are the biggest influence on parents, as they mingle with children of all religions.
“Some years back, Marathi families would never think of Christmas, but today children have changed the whole scene.� Naravne is now busy baking a huge plum cake for the party. Namita and Shaunak Nene, both architects, say that Christmas parties are an inseparable part of December for them. “This is an excellent opportunity for us to socialise with our clients from various backgrounds. In fact, this year we are planning to throw a Yuletide party ourselves,� Shaunak adds.
Third year home science student, Mridula Shevde, awaits Christmas dances eagerly, “because they give me a chance to freak out, without my parents worrying,� she says.
Sheetal Ranade, owner of a beauty parlour in the heart of the city, confirms the trend, as many Maharashtrian girls line up at her parlour before Christmas. “These girls are becoming cosmopolitan and don’t limit themselves any more to Ganpati and Diwali for enjoyment,� she says.
The effect is also clear on Laxmi road and Maharashtrian-dominated localities. Window decorations with Christmas trees, bells and lights, the shops here are set to welcome Christmas in their own way. “Children are the major buyers during Christmas,� says Bandu Satpute, manager of a gift shop on Laxmi Road, “We have candies, dolls and Santa keychains.� Bakeries in Shanipaar and Shukrawar Peth too have stocked up on Christmasspecific goodies.
Asha Naik sums up this essential Marathi Christmas spirit by saying, “My son and daughter-in-law stay in Atlanta and celebrate Christmas in a big way. I will light candles at home this Christmas and distribute sweets, because my grandchildren in Atlanta identify with it. Even though they’re not with me, my happiness will always lie in my children’s bliss,� says she.
sharvari.joshi@timesgroup.com