From carnivals and road shows to rekla and crib competition, and singing carols to holding protest to express solidarity with murder victims, believers didn’t leave out anything
Christmas is here, and Mumbai is all geared up to welcome it in its traditional and varied style. From carnivals and road shows to rekla and crib competition, and singing carols to holding protest to express solidarity with murder victims, believers didn’t leave out anything.
“We have a carnival every year, and it is attended by people of all communities,” said Mary D’Souza, member of Vakola and Kalina youth association. The carnival, held between Vakola and Kalina, had live East Indian band, live tableau, live cribs and revellers dancing in Santa hats and t-shirts.
Rekla competition, which is otherwise held during the feast of St. Jerome at Kashimira, was held at the Gorai. People from eastern states decorate horses and bullock cart carriages and ride on them. “Earlier, we used to have rekla competition. But since the rules do not allow them now, we just have our people decorate their reklas without the horses or bullocks. A number of people still preserve and decorate their reklas. Hence, we thought of giving prizes to the best three. Earlier they would decorate it and go for the feast in Kashimira on them,” said Rossi D’Souza of Gorai Gaothan Panchayat, a body that organises the rekla competition.
Mobai Gaothan Punchayet held a crib competition to encourage decorations in the city. The organisers said the best cribs will be given an award.
In Bandra, there was also a carol singing service to sympathise, show solidarity, protest and seek justice after the killing of Afrazul Khan in Rajasthan and attack on carol singing groups in different states. “It was a spontaneous decision to come together. Carol singing is a joyous thing but we did this in the light of what happened in Rajasthan and Satna and other places where right wing groups attacked Christians who were singing carol,” said Dolphy D’Souza, one of the participants.
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