By Paras Ramoutar, IANS
Port-of-Spain : People in oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago, including the large Indian origin population, are celebrating Christmas in a big way, with roads clogged with traffic and shoppers queuing up outside decorated malls for last minute gifts.
The large rush forced many retailers in shopping centres, malls and other markets to extend their opening hours. Like elsewhere in the world, the theme is Santa Claus with stores and streets overflowing with Santa costumes and sales attendants and shoppers dressed in his colours – red and white.
This is the busiest time of the year for business and goods are imported from as early as August to stock up for the ensuing holidays.
A large number of armed security guards and police dogs have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.
The traditional black cake, punche-de-creme, sorrel drink and ginger beer are found in every home in Trinidad. This is coupled with parang singing (Spanish singing sourced from neighbouring Venezuela).
The Indian population, majority of them Hindus account for 40 percent of the 1.3 million population. They celebrate Christmas with equal fervour as Diwali or Shivratri.
Hindi is spoken widely in the region.
The forefathers of the present Indian population sailed from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh more than a century ago as labourers.