How to Celebrate Christmas in India
Food, glorious food. Christmas in India is definitely all about eating! International luxury hotels serve up a vast Christmas buffets with all the favorites: roast meat (including turkey), roast vegetables, and deserts to die for. Most hotels in India will hold a special Christmas dinner of some description but it may have more of an Indian flavor to it. Here are some suggestions for a traditional Christmas lunch in Mumbai.
It's also possible to attend Midnight Mass at churches in Christian dominated areas of India.
Where to Celebrate Christmas in India
Goa, with its large Christian population, is one of the best places to have a traditional Christmas in India -- Indian style! Its many beautiful old Portuguese style churches overflow with people and Christmas cheer. Christmas carols are sung and many of the churches hold Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Christmas decorations adorn houses, streets, and market places.
Christmas is also widely celebrated in Kerala and India's remote north east region (which has a surprisingly substantial Christian population). Mumbai is another popular place to have a traditional Christmas. The western suburb of Bandra is predominantly Catholic, but you'll also find churches all over the city. These 8 Popular Mumbai Churches with Midnight Mass are the most well known ones. Bandra's Hill Road also wears a festive look full of Christmas decorations, and bakeries overflow with Christmas goodies.
In addition, you'll find Christmas celebrations in other south Indian cities such as Bangalore and Chennai.
Where NOT to Celebrate Christmas in India
Feeling like the Christmas Grinch and don't want to celebrate Christmas? Minimal Christmas festivities take place in central and north India, as there are very few Christians there.
