Christmas
is a major event in all Indian Christian households and one can
see Catholic Goa come to life at this time of the year. The Carnival,
preceding the Lenten period of penance is the most important event
at Goa.
Similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, it is an extravagantly colourful
occasion. A carnival parade, full of colour and zest, it is virtually
a celebration of life itself.
Christians in India celebrate their festivals broadly on the pattern
adopted worldwide. However some influence of local Indian tradition
is evident among Syrian Christians who use elephants, umbrellas
and traditional music as accessories to their festivities and celebrations.
Christians of India enjoy the benefit of a
secular state and its democratic set-up. While sharing the deep-seated
religiosity of the Indian people, they are also filled with a strong
attachment to their motherland. Their patriotic sentiments enable
them to be part and parcel of modern India. |
