Source: Times
Not just a word but an emotion. It’s a day of celebrating homecoming, ecstasy, tears, love, and whatnot!
It’s a day to be remembered, to rejoice with your loved ones and close ones. To make them feel special.
All these experiences can be felt at the heart of Kolkata. Yes! Kolkata – The city of joy. It’s a day when the city’s been decked with lights all around seeming to depict a different kind of aura which is like never been seen before.
Ecstasy Of Christmas Eve
The open-air party venue in Park street, the crowd here and there, the sound of music, onions sizzling in butter and oil, and popcorn popping out in food stalls in and around effectuate warmth and coziness in the environment. This all is more than a feeling. A feeling where one can sense calmness and excitement at the same time in the atmosphere.
It's eve, where ola and uber can never come across between the yellow taxis, trams, and rickshaws in Kolkata. Santa’s dancing on the street brings smiles to children’s faces.
Foggy weather, water droplets on roads and cars, chilly wind blowing out there making the whole body shiver in the cold. Mind says sit back home under the blanket but the heart says to live it out all. Who knows? When and where will you be able to feel Christmassy like this ever again?
For many Christmas is a source of happiness but for many it is not and that’s okay. Some wait for the eve to come while others wait for the eve to get over. People have reasons to celebrate and not to celebrate as well and we can normalize it. Right?!
The midnight mass at St Paul’s cathedral church where hundreds of heads sit together joining hands in devotion is a place where one can recuperate peace and relaxation. The silence there is an unusual and undisturbing one where one gets lost in the echoes of prayers. What could be more worth watching than this?!
This city has never failed to surprise me. Every sound of this city during the Eve of Christmas whether it’s the Carol or the boat cruise on river Hooghly gives a feel of being overwhelmed, intimate and jovial.
Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle All The Way!
When we hear this sentence out loud it brings a smile to our faces.
But for some, it does not. Yes, we know that Christmas marks the beginning of happiness and joy in life but there is a hidden sadness behind this cherished Eve which cries its heart out in the corner.
You see so many rejoicing faces during Christmas but have you ever seen the pain behind their smile, the grief behind their celebration?
The balloon sellers sell their shimmering balloons to kids to see their happy faces but have we ever asked them how will he manage to make their children happy today?! Poor kids waiting for their Santa to come and take away all their sorrow and fulfill their wishes in hope that everything will be good and nice ever after. Most of them gush down the metro stations so that they don't miss out on their last metro to see their loved ones and make them beautiful on this day.
Parents strive hard to sell out their products so that the money they earn will be able to buy presents for their kids.
Many faces of bewilderment and most faces of anxiety, panic, and hardship can be seen at the same time. There's so much to say through their eye, so much to feel through their emotion that one cannot imagine;). Really cannot.
Conclusion
For one day, just for one day rather than enjoying the company of your loved ones, give your time and day to the people who need your support most importantly need you! For one day, buy things from a poor, give a small token of love and care to the ones who are going through immense hardship and are tired of their life and die situation in life, for once try to make a person feel Christmassy who are away from their home, their near and dear ones.
Who knows maybe your small effort can bring a smile to Many faces, those faces who feel blessed to have you in their life, and maybe, maybe from a far-off place are showering their blessings on you. Be with them and be like them and enjoy their company. Your Christmas will be happier than ever before.
So let’s celebrate the season of homecoming and cherish it together forever!
Written By - Riya Upadhyaya
Edited by - Kritika Sharma
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