Santas, lights, green message this Xmas

Flickering fairy lights, shining stars and bedecked Christmas trees adorned shop windows across Mumbai on Thursday.

Flickering fairy lights, shining stars and bedecked Christmas trees adorned shop windows across Mumbai on Thursday.

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Bells and carols ushered Christians and non-Christians into churches — such as the Basilica of Mount Mary in Bandra and St Michael’s Church at Mahim — for midnight mass.

Malls and stores tried hard to outdo each other in their decorations. The Damian furniture store in Bandra, which had Santa perched on an elaborate sledge drawn by reindeer, remained a popular draw. A mall at Malad declared it would keep its Disney-themed décor till January 3.

In Vakola, it was celebration with a purpose. The annual crib-making competition at the Vakola parish saw 31 entries this year based on the theme ‘Save our Earth for Christ’s sake’.

In the crib put up by Happy House colony, infant Jesus was not easy to spot. The manger depicting his birth was dwarfed by contrasting scenes of modern urban decay — from cramped slums to concrete jungles. The crib was made of eco-friendly materials in the shape of an eight-foot-tall spherical ‘Earth’, draped in blue sheets with fiery red flames consuming its southern end.

“We want to depict how the people, for whom Jesus gave up his life, are responsible for global warming today,” said Peter Pereira, a professional carpenter who welded the crib’s iron frame.

The 40-odd ‘communities’ (groups of around 100 families) in Vakola parish have always been enthusiastic about the competition. Pereira’s team worked ceaselessly for three days and nights to spread the preserve-the-Earth message.

A few blocks down the road, residents of Vijay Kunj colony put up a list of 10 new commandments on simple things you can do to preserve the environment. “The Bible describes how the Lord gave us land that was fertile and plentiful, but we have defiled and corrupted it,” said Suzanna Alvares, youth coordinator for Vijay Kunj.

All the cribs in Vakola will be on display till January 7, when the results will be declared. For local residents like Anita D’Souza, who actively participate in community activities, including visiting the ill and needy throughout the year, this year’s crib-making competition was an opportunity to spread awareness about people’s responsibilities towards the community and environment.

“Normally, we just make a crib for the sake of the competition, but adding a social message makes it more meaningful,” said Marilyn Mascarenhas, a music teacher.