NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 24, 2002: A recent New York Times article describes Hindus in India taking to the Christian holiday of Christmas. While devout Hindus never start their day without lighting at least an incense stick and offering prayers to their chosen Hindu deity, come December many begin planning for Christmas. “It doesn’t matter if I’m a Hindu. Christmas stands for love, affection, sharing, renewing family bonds. It’s a festival for everyone,” said one of the Hindus interviewed, as she shopped for tree decorations at New Delhi’s upscale Ansal Plaza mall. Not surprisingly are the many echoes of complaints heard in the West about Christmas becoming commercialized. The popularity of Christmas does not extend to the religious themes associated with the festival. It’s only Christians who attend midnight church services on Christmas Eve and nativity scenes can be seen only in Christian institutions and churches. For a Hindu perspective during this season of worldwide celebrations, see “source” above for a description of Pancha Ganapati, a modern festival or “Hindu Christmas,” that is a time of gift giving and home religious observances honoring a family’s love and togetherness, community harmony and cultural celebrations.
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