Transcending religion, Yuletide spirit touches all

Published: Friday | December 26, 2008

"As far back as I can remember there had been no better time than Christmas," says Asha Mohansingh, who has been immersed in the season's festivities since her childhood.
"We go to our grandparents in Clarendon on Christmas Day, where the usual festivities abound," says Mohansingh.
Hints of Indianness
Christmas, which follows Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights), has become an integral part of Indian culture in Jamaica. The season, though, has the flavour that their forefathers brought from India.
"There are hints of Indian-ness in the festivities," Mohansingh says.
"The most visible aspect of Indian-ness is in the cuisine; my grandmother would lay an elaborate fare," she says.
The spread includes different kinds of rotis, curry goat, curry chicken and sweets. "There would also be the chicken roast and baked chicken to add the Jamaican touch," Mohansingh says.
Beyond religion
Jason Badaloo misses the 'white' Christmas he experienced growing up in the United Kingdom. "For me Christmas was the change in the weather. As a child, Christmas would mean that everything became pretty, the market lighted up and toys used to appear on the store shelves," he says.
Badaloo, a Hindu, goes to the Prema Temple at Henderson Avenue in Kingston, where there is a special Christmas treat and gifts are distributed to the poor. He says that he sees Christmas as beyond religion.
Mohansingh, also a devout Hindu, acknowledges Christ from a religious standpoint.
She is a member of the Sanatan Dharam Mandir (SDM) at Hagley Park Road, Kingston, where a special service is organised every year. "Even as Hindus, we do a small prayer and there will be Christmas treat at the mandir (temple)."
"Personally," she acknowledges, "I light a lamp at the personal altar at home on Christmas. I might not be doing it every day, which I should, but I make it a point to light one on this day."
Lighting lamps before the altar is a Hindu tradition, signifying dispelling of darkness (ignorance) and spreading the glow of knowledge.
Feeling of togetherness
"I take the opportunity to express thanks to close friends or the people who have impacted my life," says Badaloo.
Mohansingh and Badaloo acknowledge that the Yuletide season transcends the barriers of religion.
"The significance is the togetherness aspect of it," Mohansingh says. "When I was growing up, I used to look forward to gifts, now the spirit of togetherness and the company of elders became significant."
Mohansingh says that there will be a void this Christmas, as her grandmother passed away in May. "I will miss my grandmother," she says. "She won't be the first to greet us at home."
amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com