Christmas decoration stalls set to bring crowds to St. Mary’s Basilica

Bengaluru

Christmas season is upon us, and those who celebrate are beginning to prepare for the big day. Stalls selling Christmas decorations have been erected in the street in front of St. Mary’s Basilica in Shivajinagar, instilling the Christmas spirit in church-goers and passersby. “This year we have some new items, like these tree decorations and these lights,” said Vijay, who runs a relatively larger shop, as compared to the others, which contains trees, tree decorations and plastic wreaths. The shop also had a large stuffed reindeer toy which was being sold for an exorbitant price.

Most of the stalls have been set up only a few days ago and customers are not yet getting into the shopping mood. “Business hasn’t started properly yet, because it’s just the start of December. Usually it picks up after the 15th” said Kausalya, who sells miniature displays of the nativity scene, which depicts the birth of Jesus. Vijay, her husband, then decorates the wooden structure either as he wishes to or to the specifications of the customers.

During other times, the street would be filled with sellers of miscellaneous goods but during the Christmas season, stalls are set up in front of the church. These stalls require the permission of the MLA and the police as they will be disrupting the flow of traffic and causing crowding in the street. According to the stall owners, permits were not easily given to them. “We have to fight every year and this year was no different. But we got the permission from the MLA to set up the stall here. It’s a temporary structure so they allowed it.” Said Vijay.

Bhagya, running another stall, conveyed the same. She said, “We had to get permission from the MLA and the police to set it up. They made it very hard but in the end we got it.” Police officers were concerned that crowding would cause issues but were also understanding that it was a matter of celebrations. “It is their livelihood, how can we tell them to leave? It is also for religious and festival purposes so it’s okay. It’s only 15 days also so it’s fine,” a policemen  said.