5,000 Santas to offer Xmas cheers to Thrissur

Thrissur: Come December 27 and 5,000 Santas are set to dance down the streets here to set a record for the Christmas carnival  in the country.

The Archdiocese of Thrissur in association with the Thrissur Powravali is organising the biggest-ever Christmas parade in India. The march, titled Bon Nathalie, will start  from the Sacred Heart’s School, near here, at 4 p.m. and  pass through   the Swaraj Round to conclude on the premises of  St.Thomas College at 7 p.m.

According to the organisers, this is for the first time in the country that 5,000 Santas are being lined up in one single event. Several groups from motorcycle cadets to dancing schools will join the parade, which takes its cue from similar events in  western countries, they said.

Apart from the Santas, about 2,000 girls dressed as angels and 25 floats and tableaux will participate in the  march while 10,000 people will attend it.

“Bringing in the Christmas spirit will be Santa, Frosty, the Gingerbread Man etc. The parade also will feature live bands,’’  said James Valappila, an organiser.

Santas from  230 churches under the Archdiocese will  take  part in the event and prizes   and candies will also be distributed to the children.