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Goa, Kerala, Delhi gear up for Xmas celebrations Panaji | December 24, 2005 2:06:22 PM IST With Christmas falling on Sunday, preparations for the festival are in full swing in both Goa and Kerala. The Christian community, which constitute nearly 60 per cent of Goa's total population, has been in a festive mood for most of this week in anticipation of the event. With people are buying cakes, cookies and other Xmas-related eatables, cake shops have flung themselves into full action. Though most shopping for eatables are being undertaken today, the shops have been busy for most of this week replenishing their stocks. Christmas tree cakes, Santa chocolates and mistletoe-shaped cookies are selling like hot cakes at beautifully decorated bakeries and hotels. Christmas puddings and gift hampers are being packed to be used for the big day. For the gourmets, the specialties on offer include stollen, gingerbread houses, Eclait De Rubis, Blueberry Frangipane Lattice Pie, Stuffed Chocolate Chiffon Dome and Sensational Baked Berry Cheese Cake, but the all time favorite remains the plum cake. "For this Christmas in 2005, we got lots of specialities particularly come in like German Stollen, you got this Scottish cake, rich fruit cake, in which the fruits have been soaked for almost 10 months. Then you got the plum pudding, which is very very fast moving here. And you got all the different types of Christmas cookies," said Ajmal, Chef, 'The Cake Shop', Goa Marriott Resort. " We are making our own Santa different Christmas shapes and jellies we are making. The most popular items are chocolates, the home made chocolates which has got the liquors. They are very famous and are moving. At the same time, I think also the candies are moving a lot. But you come to the traditional Christmas part,its more of the plum pudding, which is the fast moving item along with the stollen and lots of cookies. And of course the frosting cakes, rich cakes are one of the best thing," added Ajmal. The markets in Panjim are flooded with sparkling decorativs items like stars, jingle bells and terracotta Mary and Jesus along with the three wise men and people of Bethlehem are grabbing the attention of customers. Large Christmas trees with fairies, light bulbs, bells and mistletoe occupy the pride of place at major hotels and are drawing people of all faiths. "People are happy. All come to the festival mood. Normally, when you see all those buntings and automatically you feel that festival season is around the corner. So, you feel happy also shopping for all those things," said Nira Sheikh, a shopper. Though Hindus comprise the majority of India's population, Christmas festivities, especially the tradition of gifts by Santa Claus, are catching on amidst a retail boom though most of the revelers will not visit a church on Christmas to celebrate it in the true spirit. Meanwhile, churches in Kochi have been illuminated and decorated with colourful papers and twinkling stars. The exteriors and interiors of the churches are being decorated with artificial twinkling stars, Christmas trees etc. to greet people a bright and colourful Christmas with the tune of Carol songs. Priests are also busy in performing rituals of the fest. Father Jose, the Chief Priest of Infant Jesus Church said, "The external preparations are almost getting over. Immediate preparations we have started yesterday by taking care of old and aged persons at homes. We have been to their homes who had confessions. The communions were distributed among old, sick and all the bed-ridden people." After decorating churches people will celebrate the Holy Mass at midnight today. Most of these churches remain decorated till new year. Markets are open till late night and shop keepers are busy in decorating their shops with twinkling stars, Christmas trees, bells and other gift items to attract people. Christians constitute 2.3 per cent of Indian population of whom, 50 per cent live in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Christmas mania has gripped many restaurants in New Delhi. Many of the confectioners and restaurants have come up with the low calorie food for the diet-conscious Delhiites here. Nirula, the popular chain of family style restaurants, Ice Cream parlours, pastry shops and food processing plants, has introduced low calorie products in the capital for Christmas and the New year. But the famous Wengers' in Connaught Place in New Delhi would still have to implement the idea as they think that market is still very niche for the low-calorie food. The Nirula's outlets have introduced some low-calorie food for Christmas and the New Year like whole wheat bread, Ajwain puff and cookies without cream and other things. "This year we have introduced some low calorie food. We offer whole wheat bread, Ajwaini Puff for heart patients. These products are not heavy and are very low in calories. We have cookies without cream. We do lot of research and development before introduction of such products. All our products are very authentic recipes. We follow traditional methods for making cakes and cookies for such celebrations" said Trilok Joshi, General Manager, Nirulas, Delhi People are inquiring for the 'diet-food' and the sales are yet to pick up. "There are still not enough buyers for the low calorie and sugar free products. If our products will not get sold, even after we offer a range of low-calorie food, then what is the use of making it. Yes, if the demand increases in the near future, we will surely introduce such products" said Charanjeet Singh, Manager, Wenger and Co, Connaught Place. Some people don't mind in adding those extra kilos to their bodies in the festive season. "We do expect low calorie food because according to the India traditions, in this festive season, people just don't think about food. At times it does not matter, it is low calorie or not," said Amrita, a customer at Wengers. y Devraj/Juhan Samuel (ANI) -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
