As December arrives and the mercury dips, the festive spirit of the city—and especially at DI—compensates with the warmth of Christmas extravaganzas. This year, I found myself swept up in the magic as members gathered to mix spices and rum for rich cakes, enjoy goblets of aromatic mulled wine, and bask in the sun at a Christmas Market that felt nothing short of a grand carnival.
This year’s Christmas Market, held on 8 December 2024, was sponsored by HDFC Bank and supported by Himalayan Footprint, the outdoor adventure partner, who added excitement with their engaging outdoor activities. The Courtyard@DI and Indoors@DI were dotted with enticing stalls, and people began pouring in from noon, ready to indulge in last-minute shopping and spend the Sunday surrounded by friends and family.
Among the many highlights were Ruth Crizzle and Cheryl Penn-Anthony’s stall, where they showcased hand-painted baubles and Christmas decorations that were anything but ordinary. "Aunty Ruth" as she is fondly called, was thrilled to be part of the fair for the second time in a row, which featured over 70 vibrant stalls. Friends Archana Chopra and Anita Kanga caught my eye with their exquisite collection of handcrafted fridge magnets, wall hangings, painted bottles, candles, plants, crystal trees, and even miniature dish gardens.
I couldn’t help but be charmed by a grandmother-granddaughter duo, Colleen Dias and Angelina, who showcased their crochet creations under the banner Artful Creations. Their stall featured bags, blouses, and colourful toys, with Angelina enthusiastically offering to customise items for customers.
For those looking for kitchen and home essentials, the stall by Anjana Datta, named Innere, was a delight. Her beautifully crafted coasters, trays, table runners, and paintings captured the rich artistic heritage of Bengal. Another standout was fourteen-year-old Zainab, whose beadwork creations under the label Beadify left visitors in awe. Her keychains, wristlets, charms, and phone danglers reflected a remarkable sense of style and aesthetics.
From costume jewellery, saris, stoles, and chikankari kurtas to children’s hand-smocked dresses, jams, pickles, and leather goods, the market had something for everyone. Adding to the charm was Sierra, a young fortune-teller who impressed everyone with her uncanny insights despite being under ten years old! After my session with Sierra, I wandered over to the food stalls, drawn by the aroma of finger foods, cakes, fish chops, chicken kebabs, Khow Suey, Phuchkas, and Chaats. The choices were endless, and each bite felt like a celebration.
The beer-drinking competition was a riot, with men and women racing to gulp down bottles in record time. The raffle tickets sold briskly, offering handsome hampers to lucky winners. The grand prize went to an HDFC Bank staff member, while Kemp O’Brien and Vineeta Choudhury also snagged hampers, proving they had luck on their side. The "Guess the Weight of the Cake" game, another crowd favourite, kept everyone on their toes.
The absolute highlight for me was Jayden Robinson, dressed as baby Santa, who melted hearts as he handed out candies and posed for photos with children much bigger than himself. Baby Santa seemed to relish his role a little too much, happily popping candies into his mouth—perhaps a dentist’s visit is in his future!
As the day unfolded, DI’s talent shone brightly. Young Madeeha had the crowd mesmerised with her electrifying dance moves to Aaj Ki Raat from Stree 2. Baby Adrika Barman’s sweet rendition of Silent Night was a touching moment that left the audience enchanted. Many other talented individuals came forward, filling the afternoon with joy and laughter.
As the festivities wound down, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of gratitude for the President, the Vice Presidents, the council members, and the Entertainment Committee for putting together such a wonderful event. It was an afternoon filled with goodies, good vibes, and memories that I will cherish as the Christmas season continues.
As the carol reminds us: “Hark! Now hear the angels sing, a King was born today. And man will live forevermore because of Christmas Day.”
