There are several ways to celebrate every festival. In a country as diverse as India, everyone has their own specific traditions and food that they fall back on. In fact, it is this diversity that brings people closer to each other and to their roots. Similarly, Christmas is celebrated by different people in different parts of the country in various ways. The Christians of Jharkhand have their own unique way to celebrate the festival.
As a kid, my entire childhood was spent in Ranchi. I used to live in the Railway quarters, with most of my neighbours being Christians. Since I saw the pomp and show associated with Christmas celebrations, it was the on festival I waited for, the most. The food and the dancing around the bonfire on songs that gave tribute to Jesus Christ and Mother Mary are the two things that I remember most prominently. The dinner plate at every house used to be exquisite. From nimki and arisa to meat-puri, everything was as delicious as it was unique to Christmas.
There would be several options to choose from when we attended these fun and wholesome Christmas parties. It started with snacks like nimki, dry cakes and arisa. Nimki is small, bite sized namkeen that was made at home, while the cakes ranged from madua to fruit to chocolate! Arisa on the other had was a sweet snack made with rice. There would be other snacks that would keep changing from house to house, like mixture or chiwda fry or rose cakes. I remember little me getting full by eating these snacks, not knowing that the main course would be as great.
Dhuska-mutton curry | Instagram - @hari_dhaniya
The main course was a meaty affair, in literal sense. There would be mutton, beef curry, chicken chilli and crispy rawa fish fry. Spoilt for choice, I would choose paneer, much to the disappointment of my hardcore non-vegetarian parents. Jharkhandi speciality dhuska would also be there to enjoy the meat gravies. There would be options in rice too – from pulao to fried rice to plain steamed rice to relish the spicy beef or mutton curry. The feast used to be too grand.
Post this heavy, satisfying dinner, we would dance our hearts out on local songs in praise of the Lord, around the bonfire. Sometimes, we would even prepare plays for the entire colony. The Christmas night would end with some great fruit custard and right from that moment, I would wait for the next Christmas. Sometimes, I still wish I could go back and enjoy Christmas just like that. But till I cannot make a quick trip back home during Christmas, my pizza and wine tradition is going well too!
