City
Epaper

Anti-CAA carols mark Christmas in Kerala

By IANS | Updated: December 25, 2019 12:00 IST

The Christmas celebrations in Kerala at some places witnessed some colours of the anti-Citizenship Act protest, but none could take away the merry cheers on Wednesday that the day brings.

Open in App

Kerala has been one of the states at the forefront of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. This theme was used by a musical troupe in the St Thomas Marthoma Church in Kozhencherry.

The group sang Carols in Muslim style and costumes, expressing solidarity with the Muslim community, who have been protesting against the CAA and the National Citizen Register (NRC).

Early Wednesday morning, Churches across the state were crowded as young and old waited patiently for the Christmas wine and cake.

The devout Christ across the various sections in the Christian community, while observing a holy lent by giving up all non-vegetarian dishes for 25 days, ended the lent when the wine was poured into their mouth by the priests conducting the mass.

The wine was followed by a piece of cake, after which a sumptuous breakfast is relished.

The traditional Syrian Christian breakfast includes, appom, stew (chicken or mutton) fish molly, duck, beef, egg roast and steamed banana.

One change from the yesteryears is with the fresh toddy, which when added to the rice dough, gives the appom a unique taste. However, toddy has become a scarce commodity and, today most homes use the yeast today.

In some homes, the lunch is the major meal and unlike the traditional "Onam Sadya" which is always eaten from a plantain leaf, the Christmas lunch is eaten from the plate.

The menu includes varieties of fish and meat and of late, in some homes it is the mouth watering "biriyani" or fried rice.

With Christmas now turning more a less a secular event, it's the bakeries which make the biggest killing as presenting a Christmas cake among friends and relatives, has become the order of the day.

And cakes, especially the ones coated with icing sugar costs anything from Rs 600 upwards and the most exquisite ones cost as high as Rs 2,500 per kg.

Christ in Kerala number around 62 lakh of the 3.34 crores population.

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalMassive vigil in Toronto calls on Canada to designate Pakistan as terrorist state after Kashmir attack

InternationalPaank condemns surge in enforced disappearances across Balochistan, demands immediate accountability

NationalIndian Navy conducts anti-ship firing drills, says fully prepared for combat

EntertainmentMatthew Modine recalls meeting Millie Bobby Brown on 'Stranger Things' set

InternationalHow US Congressmen and senators denounced Pahalgam terror attack, rallied behind India

National Realted Stories

NationalK'taka CM takes u-turn, says war should be waged with Pak only when unavoidable

NationalMarket valuation of six top 10 firms jumps by Rs 1.18 lakh crore this week

NationalMP CM announces 55% pc DA for state employees at par with Centre

NationalApple farming in K'taka, saffron in Kerala: PM Modi showcases India's green success stories

National'We are still paying price', Rashid Alvi backs Mani Shankar Aiyar’s partition remarks