Goa gears up to celebrate Christmas

With Christmas just 10 days away, Goa is gearing up to celebrate one of its most favourite festivals which will also see a large number of tourists arriving here to participate in the celebrations.
"Christmas in Goais a very unique experiencefor tourists. People of all faiths participatein the celebrationsandvisitChristmas cribsthat arecreatedby Goans indifferent settings and backdropsacross the State," Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told reporters today.
"This year, too, we are expectingtouriststo visit Goa inlarge numbers and witness the uniquenessof the celebrations," he said.
While traditional 'cribs', depicting birth of Jesus Christ, will be lined up along the highways and even internal roads,the Tourism Department has invited guests to take part in the festivities along with the locals.

The Tourism Department, in a statement, said, "Goa comes alive to thesounds of the season, the chimingchurch bells, and Christmas caroling, Goan Christmas melodies andof course the scrumptiousfood that onecannot resist.
"Besides all this hustle and bustle, there isanother very unique aspectof Christmasthat onewould not like to miss out on - the depictionof the nativityand solemnity of the birthofJesus thatthe world celebrates withfervour and festivity."

While each parish (Church) in Goacreates a crib,all across the State, youngboys and girlsspend days ahead of Christmasworking tirelesslyoncreativecribs either in a field, farm,wetland or simply along the highway.
Life-sizedimages of theHoly Family andthelittle Baby Jesus in the manger set against unique backdrops and good old Santa Clausare a big draw for tourists and evenlocals.

The cribs are unveiled at midnightafter the Christmas Eucharistic celebrations andare open forviewing till January 6.
South Goa hasan amazing displayof such cribs.One would need at leasta week to cover up a crib trail starting fromVerna, Nuvem, Cansaulim,Velsao,Curtorim, Quepem, Velim, Cuncolimand right up to theextreme endofCanacona.
In North Goa,onecan viewcribs inPanjim, St Cruz, Taleigao,Porvorim, Mapusa, Saligao and Calangute,among others.
"Year after year, the cribs are getting more creative andinnovative. While somecontinue to blend with environment andgreen concepts, others haveused latest technologiesand electronic devicestoanimate the cribs," the statement added.