karmakerala.com news

Go to any lane or bye-lane in Kochi, or for that matter any city or town in Kerala at Christmas time and you will find one or sometimes many Santas roaming about. Of course this does add to the festive mood. But if you observe a bit too carefully, you’d see in the eyes of Santa a very strange kind of gleam. No, don’t be mistaken; for it has got nothing to do with the spirit of Christmas. The gleam that you see is akin to the gleam that’s apparent in the eyes of a shopkeeper eager to get his customers.

Yes, Santa is hot business in Kerala. Get a red-robe (hey, I happened to see a Santa wearing a nightie and a plastic mask), a good Santa mask and a couple of kids to accompany you and just scout the shops and homes near you and earn some quick bucks. The business requires no credentials or prior reputation. Lots of new entrants every season for the Santa business.

Of course I am no cynic. I do agree that the ‘Santa business’ is worth encouraging. While it solves the unemployment problem at least momentarily, it does add to the festive mood to. Hail Santa! Hail Christmas!