Besides feasting on fruit-rich Christmas cake, pears and cherries made of marzipan and hot cocoa, one of our childhood rituals was to reread our favourite Christmas stories in the holidays. Be it Enid Blyton or Agatha Christie, we found that few popular writers could resist telling a Christmas story.
The bottom line is that you may be allergic to rude and intrusive evangelists, but what's not to love about Jesus? My grandmother had a small European art picture of Mother Mary holding baby Jesus in her puja room. My mother, a staunch Hindu, gave me Bible stories to read along with other storybooks, and one day she pointed out that the poor are at the heart of the gospel.
I loved singing carols and hymns so much that I still remember them from childhood. My maami used to play the piano and threw a Christmas party every year so we could gather around and sing while she played. I even mugged up the Paternoster or Our Father prayer in Latin because I found it beautiful. India, that way, is like a great big box of chocolates for us that we are free to participate in and enjoy different traditions without fear.
Out North, Christmas has long become a Hindu festival. Santa hats, Christmas trees, star-shaped paper lamps, and Christmas cakes are hugely popular with Hindu families. It does not make them less Hindu. Hindus enjoy any festival with an endearing basis and charming traditions, be it Christmas or Valentine's Day.
Esta historia es de la edición December 23, 2024 de The Morning Standard.
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Esta historia es de la edición December 23, 2024 de The Morning Standard.
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We expect 2025 to be a strong year for us in India: Toyota
AT a time when most automakers are grappling with sluggish demand, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is achieving impressive double-digit sales growth each month. This success is driven by its strong SUV portfolio and the strategic partnership between its parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Suzuki Motor Corporation. The Japanese automaker is set to surpass the 3 lakh annual sales milestone in the financial year 2025 and expects this robust growth to continue into the next fiscal year. Unlike other carmakers focusing heavily on electrification, TKM has adopted a unique strategy by offering a broader range of green powertrain options, emphasizing its ultimate goal of reducing carbon emissions. In an interaction with TNIE's Arshad Khan, Vikram Gulati - Country Head of TKM and Sabari Manohar - Vice President of Sales at TKM discuss Toyota's growth in India, their approach towards different powertrains and investments by the company. Edited excerpts:
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