Pics: Lidwin Machado & Frank Saldanha
News: Melwyn Machado
Daijiworld Media Network - Houston (SB)

Houston, Dec 26: The large Mangalorean community living in Houston, Texas celebrated Christmas with a lot of gaiety and fanfare at the residence of Charles and Florine Pinto here on Friday December 24. This
year quite a few friends residing in other parts of Texas also joined in the festivities.

Children gave a dance performance to the tunes of carols and were loudly applauded. Shay D’Cunha did a break dance to the awe of the gathering. It was time for the children to watch the arrival of Santa from North Pole. Santa Claus enacted by Eric Saldanha surprised the gathering with his majestic entry, greeting everyone and distributing gifts to children. Each family then took turns to get their pictures with Santa.

The gathering was divided in five groups and each group enacted a Christmas carol. A variety of drinks and cocktails enlivened the spirits. Each family cooked a dish and all joined together to enjoy the Mangalorean style mouth-watering food.

Families also participated in a lively gift exchange with one another.

The party went on till the wee hours of the morning, singing and dancing to the tunes of popular English, Konkani and Hindi songs and brought the curtains down only at 4.30 in the morning.

Carol singing was also held in various houses during the Christmas season.