Christmas Bazaar at BSS

Christmas Warmth at the Bangalore Steiner School

(Described by one of our parents)

Christmas celebrations at the Bangalore Steiner School began with a band of angels in harmony, singing Christmas songs from around the world. Coloured banners and streamers flapped in the breeze and framed the setting on this cool yet sunny day. Parents and friends sat around the stage, watching the children on stage as each class performed a song, whisking them away to a magical place. The audience were gifted a bonus guest performance and a special song by the amazingly talented high school group that had everyone grooving and humming along.

The Christmas Bazaar opened soon after, and everyone headed to the various activity and games stalls. Little children and grannies alike took turns to try and pin the nose on Rudolph, throw a wet sponge, learn origami and pottery, and carve pieces of stone. Handmade games and homegrown saplings were on sale, as well as candles, wool and crayons. People happily walked around the stalls chatting with the kids at the stalls and carefully choosing Christmas gifts for their loved ones.

Moms and Dads with loads of home made food busily set up their stalls and everyone had plenty to sample for lunch with delicacies like puliyogare and theplas, international dishes from China and Italy, as well as lots of snacks, chaats, cookies and cakes to munch on. There was even an alumni who is now pursuing higher studies in the culinary arts who had set up a stall and that was heartening to witness. Soon there was not a soul left hungry as the dabbas were emptied and whatever was left packed and taken home for later. Everyone waited patiently, talking to friends in the queue, for freshly squeezed orange juice to wash it all down.

There was a warm camaraderie amongst the crowd as teachers, parents, kids and friends shared their plates, sampling a bite from each other. Old friends caught up and strangers chatted like family as people passed around their plates of chakkli and cookies, and fed each other bites of Gojju avalakki that was too delicious to miss! Communal bhelpuri plates and papdi chaat swaps were common so everyone could try a little sample of everything.

The excitement and rush around the handmade crafts made by parents drew a big crowd. Everyone picked up a little something to decorate their homes, and a few more little things to gift their families and friends. Marveling at the handiwork, patrons chose between pottery and crochet, dolls and candles, key chains, bath salts and so much more.

The unusually cool day made us reflect on our role in doing our bit for the environment. Bringing our own plates and cups, leaving no waste behind, minimizing water use and composting all the scraps, was a community effort and the responsibility was well shouldered. A little girl walking home with a little pot with a moringa sapling gave one hope that every little action will make a difference.

We ended with the traditional percussion jam led by one of the teachers, and everyone went home with a little rhythm and bounce in their step, and their hearts filled with the joy, love, and warmth in remembering the birth of Christ.

-by Priyancka Vishwanath