Any advice for Christmas and New Years in India?
Aug 10th, 2012, 03:41 PM
#1
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Any advice for Christmas and New Years in India?
Hi, We will likely be in Dehli or elsewhere in Rajasthan for Chrstmas Day, be in Kerala, Calicut to be exact, on12/26, Boxing Day, and in Delhi again for New Years Eve and Day. Has any one got some advice about how much celebrating the Indians do during these holidays? Will the streets be more crowded or noisy than usual? Are the shops and sights open?
I would sure appreciate the information!
Evelyn
I would sure appreciate the information!
Evelyn
Aug 10th, 2012, 04:05 PM
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It's a busy travel time for Indians too. Expect travel and hotel reservations to be harder to find and prices for hotels will not be cheap. New Year's Eve is a big celebration. Although there are more Christians in the south, Christmas is accepted by non-Christians although they don't celebrate it.
Shops are likely going to be closed on Christmas and New Year's.
Shops are likely going to be closed on Christmas and New Year's.
Aug 11th, 2012, 07:54 AM
#4
I spent Christmas 2001 in Kochi, Kerala. It was great fun - lots of decorations, the Anglican service of Nine Lessons and Carols a couple of days ahead of time in one church, and a packed midnight mass in the Roman Catholic cathedral (in Latin!) on Christmas Eve. (I'm not a Christian but I enjoy the Christmas services.)
I spent Christmas 2010 in Trivandrum, Kerala. It was less of a big deal there, just Christmas Eve services and some kind of Christmas Eve celebration (I didn't go as I was recovering from a bug). In neither case did anything seem to be shut because of the date. In both cases my hotel put on a special meal and music on Christmas Day.
It rather depends on what you want. Are you escaping the whole Christmas thing, or do you want to celebrate a little? In the latter case you'd be better off in Goa or Kerala, and getting there BEFORE Christmas Day, not after.
I spent Christmas 2010 in Trivandrum, Kerala. It was less of a big deal there, just Christmas Eve services and some kind of Christmas Eve celebration (I didn't go as I was recovering from a bug). In neither case did anything seem to be shut because of the date. In both cases my hotel put on a special meal and music on Christmas Day.
It rather depends on what you want. Are you escaping the whole Christmas thing, or do you want to celebrate a little? In the latter case you'd be better off in Goa or Kerala, and getting there BEFORE Christmas Day, not after.
Aug 11th, 2012, 12:29 PM
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Thanks thursdaysd. It is good to know that in your experience, things weren't closed. The dates we have a available to travel and our decision to do the north before the south have put us in Delhi( or Udaipur) for Christmas Day and Delhi for New Years day. I know a number of Christian communities will celebrate Christmas up to Epiphany. How was it in Kochi? Was it just a celebration on 12/25?
Evelyn
Evelyn
Aug 11th, 2012, 12:51 PM
#6
Well, the decorations, mostly paper stars (see http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/R...2010-11/Kerala - password kerala - photos 24 & 25), were still up. I think any other celebrations going on would have been family ones.
