An Indian Christmas in Jamaica

Published December 23, 2007

The Gleaner

Rhiya Singh, a devout Hindu, says her daily prayers and visits the temple but when it comes to Christmas, she is steeped in the spirit of the season, lighting up the house and decorating the Christmas tree.

"I would not consider myself as just Hindu," says Rhiya. "I celebrate Christmas like any other Christian. I accept Jesus as God and consider myself more spiritual (during this season)."

For Rani Jagnarine, a biotechnology student at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Christmas is a time to enjoy the festivities. "I love the Christmas season," says Rani. "This is a week of celebration that we look forward to and enjoy."

Francis Ranil Raj, an exchange student at UWI from Fiji, says that Christmas is an extended feast for everyone in his country, "December 25 and 26 are holidays in Fiji, the family and friends get together and have a feast."

For Rhiya and Rani, who were born and brought up in Jamaica, Christmas also fills the void of the Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights) celebrations. "As I grew up in Jamaica, I am not familiar with how Diwali is celebrated," say Rhiya, "as it would be for someone from Guyana or Trinidad."

"I hardly celebrate Christmas as it has become too commercialised," says Shobha Gidwani, a business woman from Ocho Rios. "People go and buy and splurge on things even if they cannot afford them."

Time to give and share

For Gidwani, who has lived in Jamaica for 30 years, Christmas is a time to give and share. "We go to children's houses and give gifts to the poor," she says. This is a sentiment shared by Rhiya and Rani. Rhiya's family goes to a shelter to distribute cooked food; Rani goes to the Prema Temple at Henderson Avenue in Kingston for a special Christmas treat where they distribute gifts and feed the poor.

Gidwani and Rhiya go to church and attend Christmas Mass. "When we pray, we draw similarities between Diwali and Christmas. It is time to celebrate and enjoy," says Rhiya. For Rani, it is a time to enjoy and celebrate. "I don't partake in the religious activities," she says, "but this is a week of celebration and we enjoy it to the fullest."

"The Indian business community in Ocho Rios goes to parties and exchanges gifts," says Gidwani.

The Christmas feast also has that Indian touch. " On Christmas Day, we have a big breakfast, which is a family affair. All our extended family comes together and we have a feast," says Rhiya. "As an Indian touch, we cook curry goat and also serve pickles."

"We have a lot of Indian food," says Rani. "We cannot eat pork or beef, so it is variants of chicken and curry goat, rotis and chutney."

Christmas is a festival that transcends boundaries of religion and faith. In India, Christmas is as important as Diwali. Indian president, Pratibha Patil, hosted a reception for Christmas at the presidential palace in New Delhi on Thursday.

The idea is to get together with family and friends and share the warmth and spirit of the season. Rhiya, who studies in Canada, says, "We ensure that the family gets together, and enjoys."

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com