Christmas is the biggest and most widely observed festival in New Zealand.
Kiwi Indians also celebrate it with as much enthusiasm and fervour as other ethnic groups do, but with an Indian twist.
From kindergartens, retail stores and small businesses to swanky corporate offices Kiwi Indians participate wholeheartedly in festive mood.
The ‘Indian touch’ would be evident in Santa’s secret gifts containing beautiful Indian artefacts and Christmas lunches with delicious butter chicken on the menu.
The spirit of Christmas extends to homes as well.
Many Indian families set up beautiful Christmas trees, with gifts beneath them.
This is where the latest gadget for the teenager sits side by side with a gift for the tiny tots of the family from India.
Christmas Carols are played alongside popular Hindi music on the stereo.
Many Kiwi Indians also deck their houses from outside with lights and a diya to give their decoration that unique differentiating image.
They appear to be saying that Diwali, the Festival of Lights can coexist with Christmas and strengthen the bond between the communities.
A big and scrumptious Christmas Day Lunch is an intrinsic part of the festival, organised by Indian families. Family and friends get together to enjoy the day and strengthen their relationships.
All festivals preach the importance of togetherness, joy and love.
The observance of Christmas on a large scale by Indians is reaffirmation of their beliefs in the tenets of the auspicious day.
It also reinstates their feeling of being a part of New Zealand.
Migrating to a new country involves more than a change of landscape for people.
They encounter a new society with different norms, culture and customs compared to their home countries.
In order to experience the country fully and integrate into mainstream of the society, families must embrace this change seamlessly. They should adopt all the good things that their adopted country offers, without giving up the traditions and values imbibed in their homeland.
