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Whatever be the season, festivals galore in India. Since India is a secular country, festivals of all religious groups are celebrated with great pomp. The month of December rings in the Christmas season and the hope of a short vacation. Christmas day, that is, the 25th of December is a national holiday and the schools usually give a small winter break during the Christmas week.
The Christian community in India celebrates Christmas in a very grand fashion. The houses are spruced up well in advance and decorated with fairy lights. People don new clothes and exchange gifts with their friends and relatives. Christmas delectables like cakes, plum puddings; pies are prepared for family and friends. Christmas trees are decorated and set up at home with gifts for everyone. Special mass, midnight mass is held in the churches which are decorated very beautifully.
Nativity scenes are depicted at the church, homes and even at shopping malls.
Santa Claus’ visit is much awaited by the children who hang up socks at home, hoping to get their desired gift. In shopping malls and gift stores a person dressed as Santa Claus goes around distributing chocolates to children. In many schools, nativity scenes are enacted and a Christmas party is held before the short winter break.
Winter in India is a peak time for travel and tourism. The Christmas week in India is a busy time for hotels and tour operators. Goa, is the most preferred destination of tourists both foreign and Indian, during this time. People can look forward to heady festivity full of music, dance and good food in Goa.
The hill stations in India are also popular destinations during the Christmas week. If tourists are lucky enough they can enjoy a white Christmas at the hill stations. During Christmas, hotels offer special packages at special rates. Some hotels organize special events to celebrate Christmas and give their guests a feel of the Christmas celebrations in the West. Darjeeling, Shimla, Mussoorie, Ooty, Kodaikanal are some popular hill getaways during the Christmas week in India.
Since 1939, the Christmas week is a special attraction at hotel Windamere, Darjeeling .The celebration runs from the 18th of December to the 1st of January. Renowned performers from the famous West End theatre of London have entertained guests at Windamere during Christmas week. Celebrity performers, vocalists and musicians from France, New Zealand and Australia have entertained guests at this heritage hotel. Windamere is ranked amongst the top ten Colonial Hotels in the world.