Christmas spirit embraces Mangalore and Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Pics by Ramachandra Bhat

Mangalore, December 17: It’s Christmas time again! Like any other place in the world, Mangalore is also decked up for the festival of the season. Christmas carols, street plays, and tableaus remind us of the arrival of the son of God. Christian houses, shops and streets are decked up with paper stars, lamps and glittering buntings. The season and the festival, like most festivals, are also special  on food. Cake and wine are integral to the celebrations. Udupi and Mangalore wear a sight to behold as it comes alive with lighting, fireworks, and merriment. The festive spirit of Christmas embraces one and all as it spreads joy and happiness everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Churches, convents, homes, and institutions now sport attractive cribs, illustrating the birth of Jesus. These cribs are symbolic of the spirit of Christmas; and all of them, big, small, or medium-sized, spread equal joy and cheer among the people. The sight of infant Jesus on his mother’s lap with Joseph looking on, the shepherds with their flocks, the ancient shack, the figurines of clay, porcelain, or plaster or Paris, the small ponds, huts, green fields, and others is indeed joyous and awe-inspiring.

Some of the best cribs can be viewed in Mangalore. In every church and in thousands of Christian homes and even in non Christian homes, cribs are created. Beautiful and innovative cribs can be viewed in St. Sebastian Church Bendoor, St. Joseph’s Seminary in Jeppu, Lady Hill Convent in Lady Hill, Milagres Church, Rosario Church, Derebail Church, Urva Church, and many other churches all over the twin districts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Veena D’Souza of Kulshekar, who made a crib with her children, says that creating cribs helps visualize the situation in which Jesus was born, kindles hopes, and strengthens faith about the presence of Jesus.
 

 

 

 

 

The churches in Mangalore are already making preparations for Christmas Eve. They have been tastefully adorned with lights, Christmas trees, and other decorations. During the Christmas season, Christian families spend entire days and nights, creating cribs, cleaning the churches, and decorating them.