See Goa through my eyes: christmas

Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Christmas in Goa - The Christmas Crib

The Christmas Crib in Goa

The Crib should be a cherished part of the Christmas celebration in every family. It is not only completely religious in significance but also presents to the children in a beautiful way the central event which we commemorate on this great feast. Thus it assumes the character of a religious shrine in the houses of the faithful during Christmas season. Dignified decoration might enhance its attraction and solemnity.

In Goa and around the world Christmas was celebrated with lots of fun and joy.
This Christmas as I visited my relatives and friends to wish them a Merry Christmas,
I have clicked photographs of a cribs which I came across
and I would like to share these photographs with the viewers of my blog.

A crib at Campal

A huge crib at Ribandar

A beautiful crib at Merces

Thats a sweet and simple crib at my friends place

This crib may not look beautiful on picture, but it was a very nice mechanical crib made by a Hindu artist in Merces. It had movements, light effects etc.

A beautiful crib

A beautiful Sunset as I went around visiting friends for Christmas

A star at Saligao, Goa

A crib by Heralds of Christ

A crib at a house in Campal, Goa

A crib at the Mapusa Muncipal Market Goa

Thats my little Crib

The Crib at the Panjim Church

A live crib, moving around at Porvorim Goa

Life Sized Santa at Panjim Goa

This is the crib that I liked the most, at St. Inez, Panjim Goa

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas Goa

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle all the way

Christmas is celebrated all over the world on 25th December.
Its the birth day of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was not born in a palace or wealthy household
He was born in a manger, a stable.
Christmas is celebrated in great way in Goa.
However, this year the celebrations are on a low note, on account of the bomb blasts in Mumbai.
But the spirit of the Christmas season has not dampened and still prevails
Every household is busy getting their homes ready to welcome baby Jesus.
You can see people decorating the Christmas tree and making cribs.
People getting ready the sweets for Christmas namely Naureos, Bibinca, Dodol, dose etc
Children go around singing carols and waiting for Christmas father to get them gifts.
Live cribs with carol singing make rounds in villages
People from all communities in Goa take part in the festivities of Christmas.
Programs are held at the different parishes in Goa during the Christmas week.
The mid night Christmas mass draws huge crowds which includes goan, people from India as well as many foreign tourists.
After the mass there are cultural events and social gatherings.
with each person wishing every person they meet a "Merry Christmas"

Here are just a few pictures of the people getting ready for Christmas

A live crib, with children singing and dancing, doing rounds in Porvorim

The crib at the Panjim Church

A Christmas father on display for sale at a shop

Christmas decorations for sale

"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products
"No one wants to be left out"

"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products

"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products
"Tourists enjoying the Christmas father around"

"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products

The Christmas crib at the Mapusa market

A effigy of Christmas Father, at Cortin Panaji

Friday, December 19, 2008

Goa Intercollege Carol Singing competition organised by Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa

Goa Inter College Carol Singing competition organised by Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa

The Inter College Carol Singing competition organised by the Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa was held at the Kala Academy Open Air Auditorium on 18th December, 2008.

Fr. Valeriano Vaz, Director, Caritas Goa was the chief Guest for the occasion. He congratulated all the participants and also the Help and Help charitable trust.

In all, there were 12 Goan Colleges participating in the event.
It was a mesmerizing performance by the students of St. Xaviers College, Mapusa, that gave them first prize, the second place went to Dempe College, Miramar and the third place was bagged by The Dental College, Bambolim.

There was a large audience for this event and they were applauding the participants. The competition was tough, so it meant a lot of judging for the members of the Jury that included eminent personalities like Fr. Benard Cotta, Fr. Jean D'Cruz, Ms. Juliana D'sa, Ms. Mercedes Lobo & Shri. Christopher Furtado.

What came as a pleasant surprise to the audience was the carol singing by a 150 member group who comprised of the people from the different homes for the aged, autistic children,special children etc and from all over Goa. This group had members from different age groups, young and old and even an octogenarian. This group got a and a standing ovation and a huge applause from the audience. As it was indeed a touching experiences as they sung the carol "Happy Birthday Jesus".
Another surprise to end the carol singing competition was carol singing by "the Goa College of Music" It was a splendid presentation.