Kolkata’s Armenians celebrate Christmas
20:47 06.01.2014
As many as 30 families (nearly 70 children included) partied at the
Armenian Sports Club premises after the morning rituals at the
Armenian Church of Kolkata, Newstrack India reports.
Students from the community in native Armenia and Iran, studying at
the Armenian College also participated in the annual revelry.
The church, known as the the Holy Church of Nazareth and dating back
to the early 18th century, was abuzz with chanting in Armenian as
150-odd members of the community gathered to start Christmas
celebrations.
`Christmas is Christmas… it is mainly a family affair and all families
get together for feasts. Gifts are distributed to children, and they
enjoy amusements like pony rides etc.,’ Peter Hyrapiet, president of
the Armenian Club of Kolkata, told IANS.
The children danced their way to popular Bollywood tracks as well as
joined in with the elders to enjoy their traditional folk dance.
Vahan, a student studying in the city, who is set to go back to his
country, said, `It’s great to see the community integrating with the
locals. We celebrate Durga puja, Western Christmas as well as our own
Christmas.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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