It’s the time to….fa la la la….yess…Ho Ho….red dress, red caps, long white
beard, Christmas Tree, gingerbread and more… There is something to December,
which brings in its wake a season of joy, laughter, love and everything that is
nice. The season in Delhi kicks off with a number of Christmas Markets. When I
was a child, it used to be Christmas Mela on Janpath and how beautiful it was
decorated. That does not happen now but leading the way are a host of Christmas
Markets organized by the various Embassys. With the numbers growing, several
overalp with one another. The one at the Swiss Embassy, was wonderful, cosy and
yes Happening…but that would be wrong to describe a Christmas market. It was
personalized, happy and celebrated the true Christmas spirit with joy. The
abundance of food, shopping, activity centre just set the stage for spending a
nice Sunday afternoon. With my dear friend Rita in tow, we reached early..before
12 and spent a good 3 hours laughing and enjoying ourselves. The point of
attraction was the stall by August Collectives (my gutsy friend Punita’s brand).
It was her invite which drove us to Chanakyapuri. It is always a pleasure going
to that area, which reminds one of what Delhi once was. The wide roads,
perfectly manicured gardens and open spaces. The drive well worth the trouble.
Good vibes, good music and a very friendly set of people. The shopping area had
some excellent products and easy on the purse too. There were dolls from
Silaiwali, mittens, knitted items from another NGO, Kashmiri handicrafts with
some beautiful stoles and shawls. Upcycled bags from vintage embroidered pieces,
cushion covers woven from old sarees on khadi, wooden artifacts for Christmas,
wellness products, cakes by the droves, salad bowls, cake stands, cutlery, bar
accessories at Punita’s August Collectives. Seabuckthorn juice, Tarot reading
with tea….
Timings – 11 am to 5 pm
Where - 2nd and 3rd December at the Swiss Embassy (Embassy of
Switzerland), Chanakyapuri. (Most fairs are held end November or early December
– the first weekend)
Entry Fees – It was Rs. 400/- this year, with the ticket to be bought at
the gate.
Highlights - The food court with Apple Strudel and Apple Juice from the
German Bakery, based in Delhi. Mull wine and pancakes. Stall selling cookies,
chocolates and other things imported from Switzerland. Some beautiful
embroidered napkins, table mats, covers from craftsmen and NGOs.
Insider Tip – An excellent weekend fun, good food, good music and a nice
ambience. It reminds one of what most Delhites used to do during weekends once
upon a time…yes have picnics in open parks dotting the city. It was a time
before the malls took over. The Malls…well that is another story and blog.. and
I do like them too…😊😊
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