Celebrating Xmas away from home

KOLKATA: Celebrating traditional festivals away from home has its share of thrill. Much like the millions of Bengalis, who celebrate Durga Puja with pomp miles away from the country, foreign nationals staying in Kolkata are also gearing up to have a good time on Christmas and New Year.
Speaking to TOI, Simon Wilson, British deputy-high commissioner in Kolkata, said: "This is my third Christmas in the city and every year, my family comes here from the UK for the celebrations. My 80-year-old mother too makes it a point to visit me. Though we celebrate it privately with warm roasted turkeys, the multicultural Christmas celebration in Kolkata is exciting."
Linda and Eva, students from Germany, are staying in the city for three months. "We are here on a teaching project involving underprivileged children. We will be with the kids in a village near Ganganagar during this festive week. We plan to give them gifts for Christmas," said Linda, for whom this is the first Christmas away from home. "I am missing the white Christmas, but loving the warmth of the people here," she added. Eva puts it simply: "Back home we celebrate it with our families, but here, people celebrate it together."
For diplomats, Christmas is mostly away from home. Moulik D Berkana, deputy director at the American Center in Kolkata, said: "My last Christmas in the US was in 2002. Since then, it has always been away from home. In the US, the feel of Christmas starts right after Thanksgiving, just like we feel the Durga Puja spirit months before it actually starts. I enjoy seeing the decorations all over Kolkata. This Christmas, though, I will be away in Agra to see the Taj Mahal. But I will be back to the vibrant city before New Year to party with my family."
Travelling all the way from Sweden, Marie, Peter and their six-year-old daughter Yamina are on a five-week trip to India and plan to celebrate Christmas here. "We are looking forward to an unusual Christmas. The festive spirit of Kolkata is different. It looks more like a community affair."
Equally enthusiastic are a group of four friends from Sweden Elizabeth Rorholm, Liza Bylib, Marie Strom and Barbro Stjerna. Though full of senior citizens, this group is young at heart. "Being part of Christmas celebrations far away in India is a different feeling. Everyone celebrates here irrespective of their faith."