Christmas in Visakhapatanam

Last year I was in the beautiful city of Visakhapatanam on East Coast of India. We Mumbaikar's coming from West Coast are normally accustomed to see only sunset on a beach whereas here in Visakha we can see the sunrise and not the sunset on beach. This is the main beauty. Otherwise it is like Goa on East Coast with good people and good food.

As I had some Christian friends with me on Christmas morning I went to Church with them and attended the rituals.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the diversity of our great nation here. The ladies who came to Church were dressed in typical South Indian Silk sarees. Next, when they approached Church they covered head with Pallu. Although they chose to pray to a different Prophet they had maintained their own culture.

The next shock was difficult for me to digest as they removed footwear before entering the Church just like we enter Temple, a holy place. In our rush of daily life we do not notice and appreciate these small things which make our Nation the best in the world.