Religion no bar, X’mas brings cheer for all

Thane: You know Christmas is near when merriment spreads all around with people practicing carols and decorating their Christmas trees. Markets are flooded with decoration items and with only a few days left for preparation of the festival, people cutting across all religions take their pick to make the celebrations a memorable one.
Seven-year-old Arnav Chavan has picked up a handful of items including a Santa cap, basket of chocolates, shimmering lights and a star.Sunita Chavan, Arnav’s mother, is a Christian married to a Hindu. “Our inter-caste marriage allows us to celebrate all festivals with equal pomp and fervour,” says Sunita.
Sameer Nandu, owner of a shop at Kharkar Ali said, “Most of our customers are non-Christians. Of all our customers, there are only around 25 per cent Christians. As our shop is located near a school, many schoolchildren, along with their parents visit our shop and buy decoration items and gifts for their friends.”
Bells, Santa figurines and stockings available at the market are attracting Christian and non-Christian customers.
Nineteen-year-old ‘secret Santa’ Priti Dore has bought gifts for her ‘secret kid’.
“We are playing a game among our friends circle wherein we gift each other without revealing who the Santa is,” she said.
Anil Shinde