With the passage of years, Christmas has become a season of benevolence and faith on humanity. As more and more people queue up to buy cakes and sing carols, it is a celebration of homecoming and family warmth. The tenderness inherent in love for all, an integral part of Christmas envelops one in a kind of fellow feeling cementing tranquil bonds to be preserved for life.

Crackers and carol songs notwithstanding, there seems to be an inner calm about this festival, radiating a quiet goodness that rests in the corners of one’s hearts, making one feel every heart has something good to offer. It also marks the winter holidays bringing in its wake a new year, acknowledged by every community and the world at large, though each community have their vernacular calendars.

As one strolls down the memory lane on the Park Street of the childhood, one finds its character to be unchanged. Other than a few incidents which are aberrations, Park Street continues to be an epicentre of joy and festivity of Christmas in the city. It is a place to exchange greetings with strangers. And yet, one will be left wondering how thrice removed one’s childhood is from the reality of today.

Park Street still looks beautiful, with some of the restaurants like old faithful still standing tall, but the manifestation of Christmas has almost been made official over the past few years with the Street being lit up with the signs of “Kolkata Christmas Festival”, thereby making a marked difference with the yesteryears.

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Time was when the celebrations were more subtle with the feel good factor reigning supreme. Now desires have wings and the festival brings in more people who actually participate in the celebrations. But one sitting far away, say in far away London, would wonder what celebration would typically mean on the Christmas Day or its eve. Of course, the tone for celebration is set as the holidays begin, but a typical day of Christmas in the West will be a beautiful Christmas Tree, in all-faith homes, rich, economically challenged, religious or nonbelievers, a family of which some have just managed to reach home the night before to gather around the hearth to raise a toast, voice happy thoughts, share small anxieties and say simple prayers for their beloved. If you would be the lucky one, probably book a place at the St Paul’s for the mass, or just sit in a warm home amid friends and witness reading the sermons as your lips silently seek health for all.

Kolkata Christmas has long crossed the sign posts of religious celebration of a particular community. Then of course the little ones in the family would get gifts because it’s that time of the year and probably the only time when they receive gifts on someone else’s birthday.

Here, in Kolkata, where winter is making slow inroads, the bell tolls at St Paul’s too and prayers are read in participation of people, no faiths barred, some sing carols, some houses have trees and others don’t, cakes of course are the most common entities, people do wander out on the streets and some party. One must say, however, the Anglo Indian food stalls at Allen Park is too good. All is good, the warmth of home and good cheer is felt all around today.

Merry Christmas.