Synopsis "Indian Christmas an Anthology (in English)"
DeScriPtionFew countries celebrate religious and cultural festivals with greater passion, imaginationand joy than India. And among the many festivals of this gloriously diverse, multiculturalnation is Christmas-the night that Jesus came to earth, bringing with him the allembracing 'fragrance of Love'. The Christian communities of India celebrate the birthof Christ with food, music, lights, prayer, family gatherings, charity and other age-oldtraditions, some of which have evolved over almost two millennia. And for centuries, other communities have also participated in the celebration of this Indian festival-itscheer and spirit of love as resilient, even in times of division, as India itself.This anthology captures the distinctive magic of Christmas in India. Edited and withintroductions by two of India's finest writers, Jerry Pinto and Madhulika Liddle, it is asplendid collection of essays, images, poems and hymns-both in English and translatedfrom India's other languages-which showcase the variety of Christmas celebrationsacross the country.Damodar Mauzo, Vivek Menezes, Easterine Kire, Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, ElizabethKuruvilla, Jane Borges and Mary Sushma Kindo, among others, write about Christmastraditions and celebrations in Goa, Nagaland, Kerala, Delhi, Ranchi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Shillong and rural Jharkhand. Arul Cellaturai writes tender poems in the Pillaitamiltradition to the moon about Baby Jesus, and Punjabi singers compose tappe-boliyan aboutMary and her infant. There are Mughal miniatures depicting the birth of Jesus, and paintingsby Jyoti Sahi and Sister Marie Claire inspired by folk art. And photographers from near andfar capture images of Christmas time in Aizawl, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi.Charming family traditions, 'chutnified' Christmas lunches and dinners, quintessentiallyIndian versions of Christmas decorations and rituals-all find a place in the pagesof Indian Christmas, a first-of-its-kind collection that pays tribute to a great Indian festival.It is a unique and beautiful book to possess and to gift.
