We were at the mall this morning shopping for sundry groceries, wandering about with no real aim but much intention. And I couldn’t help notice that every store was gaily decorated for Christmas. Which is a good thing as far as I am concerned, since I am one of those who likes Christmas and fully approves of all that is celebratory of the season. But there was a certain aspect of the decorations that struck me as frankly hilarious: snow. There were tufts and drifts of white-cottonwool snow all over the place, with a couple of nicely rounded Santa Clauses, elves, reindeer – including Rudolph with his nose so red – snowmen, gingerbread houses, plum puddings and so much more that signifies and symbolizes the season of loving and giving, hugs, hot chocolate and handmade goodies.
Why was I in giggles? Very simply, because of all that ‘snow’. Anyone who has lived in this part of the world knows that however much they may wish for it, snow in the city is an impossibility. Especially these days, when the weather seems to be getting warmer when it should actually be getting cooler. The only way you will see snow in Mumbai is if someone sets up a special facility to produce it, or in the freezer compartment of the old refrigerators – the new ones all profess to be ‘frost free’. So to the average child, the one who has not been to Shimla or Manali or elsewhere in the country or the world where it does get cold enough to snow, the associations are automatic but unrealistic. Perhaps the learning experience started in school or even at home watching television or lisping through baby books, when images of Santa in his sleigh, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and going into the woods to find the perfect Christmas tree were fed into young heads. I learned that way, I know, and then I re-ran the whole experience in reality when we lived in Europe, from the snow to sleighs, Santa and spiced cake.
But celebration is just what this city needs. After the ten terrorists who barged into Mumbai and wreaked bloody havoc, killing so many, destroying so much and making all of us feel strangely vulnerable, we need to find peace on earth and goodwill to all men, snow, Santa and sleighrides notwithstanding. If ’tis the season to be jolly, let’s get with it and be jolly! Fa la la la la la la la la….
No comments:
Post a Comment