Santa plays hide 038; seek

8220;We are in no mood to celebrate this year. I think the idea of having any ostentatious celebration is against the tragedy the city has faced recently,8221; said 40-year-old Girish Pawar. Pawar has been playing the role of Santa Claus for kids in a housing society at Kandivili. Pawar, however, admits kids will not understand the meaning of recession or large-scale violence.

Indeed, seven-year-old Mira Narayanan is wondering why the happy man is missing. 8220;Last year, the huge happy man welcomed me with a huge hug and smile. It is so surprising that Santa Claus is missing this year,8221; rues Mira, who did not find him at Inorbit Mall.

Mall officials say that the celebrations have been toned down, but not done away with. 8220;Though we will not forget what happened, it is necessary we move on. Hence we are having celebrations just like we had in the previous years, though the scale has come down,8221; said CEO of Inorbit Malls, Kishore Bhatija. In the previous years the mall had Santa Claus all day, right at the onset of the festive month. This time, Santa will be present only during the evenings.

The mood is sombre also at Hotel Marine Plaza, a stone8217;s throw from terror-hit Oberoi-Trident. Known for grand celebrations otherwise, the hotel is also home to one of the city8217;s patron Santa Clauses: Carl D8217;Costa 45.

D8217;Costa, the hotel8217;s food and beverage manager, is also its official Father Christmas. He has been playing Santa for six years. 8220;Playing Santa comes naturally to me as I am a Catholic and also plump. But things have never been so bad. You just don8217;t feel the Christmas spirit. As part of the service industry, you don8217;t want to go back again and again to the attacks and want to move on. But the happy feeling is just not coming from within,8221; says D8217;Costa.

The hotel is having a quiet Christmas carol session every night to pray for the city. D8217; Costa, however, admits that if someone urges him, he will not hesitate to take out his red robes. 8220;Though the spirit is not there, it is important to spread the cheer. If some kids compel me to become Santa Claus, I will do so.8221;

The feeling is echoed by a 19-year-old Santa, Vicky Singh. 8220;This is the first time I am becoming Santa Claus, and I am enjoying the feeling. Though we are going through sad times, I think it is important to spread the cheer,8221; says Singh. He has been the official Santa at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel.