When Christmas Day and meatless Monday align
MY DEAR dear friend, Frank Goveas, a Mumbai-based pioneer of the travel trade between South Africa and India, was a good Christian. Despite his unwavering faith in Christ, he also embraced religious universalism.
For him, all religions held elements of truth; different paths could lead to the same destination; and there had to be tolerance, understanding, and respect for diverse religious beliefs and practices.
Despite the absence of diplomatic ties between India and South Africa during the dark days of apartheid, Goveas’ firm, Trimurti Holidays, became a household name for local Indians wishing to tour India during four decades.
Although Trimurti Holidays closed after Goveas passed away in December 2016, there was a time when it was the travel agency of choice in India for many leading local travel agents. Goveas’ loyal clientele included Hindus, Christians, Muslims and non-believers.
Goveas was a devout Catholic. He attended Sunday Mass without fail – no matter where in the world he was.
But unlike fanatical Durban pastor Bobby Pukreesamy, who, it would seem, derives strength from Christianity by bashing the Hindu faith, Goveas embraced all faiths.
While remaining true to Roman Catholicism, Goveas observed the South Indian month-long fast of Purattasi in support of his Hindu business partner, Asha Advani, who kept the fast. Likewise, Advani joined Goveas and kept the fast for 40 days during Lent.
Goveas made an annual pilgrimage to the Tirumala temple in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh that is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Venkateswara.
Although the staff at the Trimurti Holidays office in Nariman Point comprised Hindus, Christians and Muslims, Deepavali was observed with a hawan ceremony in the office followed by a grand feast.
During Ramadan, Goveas and Advani made a point of booking advertising space in the local media to wish their Muslim friends in South Africa a joyous Eid.
I have first-hand knowledge of sculptures of Hindu deities that have been donated by Goveas to local temples, with the express condition that his magnanimity must remain undisclosed.
Despite being possessed of impeccable manners, a joyful personality, and a lovely sense of humour, Goveas could almost burst a blood vessel when he was angry.
I shudder when I ponder how he would have rebuked soapbox preacher Pukreesamy had they met.
During his talks at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, the Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda was critical of missionaries who converted people to Christianity.
He said if one could not be a good Hindu, referring to those who abandoned their religion of birth, what guarantee was there that he or she would be a good Christian.
He described Hinduism as a religion that taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.
It is in this spirit of tolerance that many Hindus throughout the world celebrate Christmas.
This is in stark contract to many Christians, especially recently converted Indians, who refuse to eat sweetmeats and savouries prepared for Hindu religious occasions. It’s as if one vada, a piece of roht or a couple of gulgulas, would dilute their newfound Christianity.
Hindus, on the other hand, are all game for a jol. They go on a profligate shopping spree for Christmas, making sure the kids have photos taken in the mall with Santa.
They buy new clothes, they exchange gifts with relatives and friends, they stuff the freezer with extra food, including a fat turkey, and even have a decorated Christmas tree in the lounge.
Hindu kids love the idea of a chubby jolly fellow bringing them gifts for being a good child all through the year. For many Hindus, the festive spirit is the same as it is for Deepavali.
Some Hindus have no qualms about lighting a candle in church during Yuletide. The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa has a special satsang for Christmas. What does Pukreesamy have to say about this?
Anyway, coming to a more serious matter, what are thousands of Hindus to do about the fact that Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year? Most Hindus of Tamil and Telugu stock keep fast on Mondays.
Those who are Hindi-speaking are vegetarian on Tuesdays. Many fast on both days.
This means that for them, there cannot be a Christmas Day braai, juicy roast turkey, Cornish chicken curry with gadra beans, grilled peri-peri prawns, slow roasted leg of lamb or honey-glazed cooked gammon.
In my days as a carnivore or meatatarian, I was partial to ham and took great delight in preparing glistening gammon studded with cloves and decorated with syrupy pineapple rings for friends and myself.
This gastronomic gift from the gods was anathema to others in the Devan household.
When Christmas day and meatless Monday coincide, like it does this year, there will be some Hindu households that will forego the fast, with the argument being held out that Christmas comes only once a year.
For others who are more devout, it will mean no freshly prepared meat dishes on Monday or tasty leftovers from the braai and turkey dish on Tuesday.
However, Christmas on Monday presents a unique opportunity to reimagine traditional Christmas meals in a meatless way. It’s a chance to get creative with festive vegetarian dishes that can bring joy to the table – without meat. From savoury roasted vegetables, hearty casseroles, and pasta dishes to flavourful plant-based mains like breyani with soya prawns and paneer, lentil loaves or nut roasts, there’s a wealth of options to celebrate the holiday while honouring dietary choices.
Christmas day is just one day and there is no need to sweat the small stuff.
So long as we are with people that matter, laughter, music, candlelight, giving and receiving gifts, food in our bellies and plenty of love, the day will be wonderful.
Most importantly, just breathe and remember no matter what you serve up, it is sharing a meal with family, friends and loved ones that really matters.
Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
May you be showered with good health, spiritual prosperity, and peace.