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on Jen's Indian Adventure (India), 22/Dec/2009 10:15, 34 days ago
‘Christmas time. Mistletoe and Wine……’Well, this year there’ll be no mistletoe or wine, but maybe a Dosa and some Kingfisher beer. No snow either (typical it’ll be a white Christmas the year I’m not at home) but basking heat.It doesn’t feel a bit like Christmas over here. Hinduism is the main religion here in Orissa and Christians are in the minority, but on saying that the 25th December is recognized as a national holiday all the same. For most it’s back to work on the 26th, even though it’s a Saturday. Offices here openMonday – Saturday, except the second Saturday of the month.There are small signs of Christmas to be found if you look hard enough. The local supermarket is selling Santa hats and the recent trips to the local coffee shop have included the staff trying to sell me a Christmas pudding. I don’t know if the shops close on Christmas Day, but I’ll find out soon enough.The big festivals here are Diwali, which celebrates Lord Ram, Republic Day and Holi, the festival of colours and water throwing. For Holi I have been warned to wear whatever I don’t mind throwing away as people will throw paint and water at you as you walk down the street. That’s in March so I have plenty of time to prepare.So‘Christmas kyi shubh kam nayen’(Happy Christmas’) from a sunny BhubaneswarI’ll have learned how to say ‘Happy New Year’ before the 31st.JenPS If anyone is still deciding what charity to give to this Christmas please think of VSO. It costs the organization over 20,000 per year to train and provide living allowances and accommodation to each volunteer overseas. You can donate throughhttp://www.mycharity.ie/and put in my name. Thank you