M’luru gears up for Xmas

Mangaluru: The coastal city is all set to celebrate Christmas. The entire city is soaking in the Yuletide spirit, and decked up with lighting and decorations.
Lighting and decorations can be seen in homes, malls, shopping centres, restaurants, and churches. One can also feel the aroma of freshly baked cakes and kuswar (sweets) wafting from homes and bakeries. Even though there was less concern about Covid-19 last year, the celebrations remained modest. However, this year, the situation is almost normal, despite the fear of another possible Covid-19 wave.
A lot of NRIs, who were not able to join their families for celebrations in the last two years, have come down to the city, from across the globe, adding colour to the celebrations. Ullas Rasquinha of Jerosa Company, who has been selling Christmas decorations and related items for the past 55 years, says that the response is better compared to the last two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The customers are coming forward to buy things for Christmas celebrations, but the rush is not at the level of the pre-Covid days,” says Rasquinha.
Christian households are busy preparing kuswar, making stars, Christmas trees and cribs. “Every year, I prepare cribs and stars using my own ideas. This year, I have made a star and Christmas tree using old newspapers, and also a star with coconut flowers,” said Robin J Miranda, a resident of Bejai.
Hotels in the city are fully booked for another week. “This year, a lot of NRIs have come down and booked hotel rooms. All our rooms in both properties are completely booked until the New Year,” said BN Girish, vice-president, The Ocean Pearl, Mangaluru. The hotel has also arranged special menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for its guests, as well as other patrons. The executives of other hotels also said that bookings are full for another week.