Pune:
If you thought Santa Claus only came with a white beard and a deep baritone then you are in for a surprise. In Pune, its not Santa Claus but Santarines that are spreading the Christmas cheer in most of the malls and multiplexes in the city.
These women Santas or Santarines, as they call themselves, some of them IT professionals, others housewives, members of a women's group have learnt how to play Santa on Christmas to hand out the festive cheer each year and of course some good advice where possible.
"We tell the children all about the need to keep the environment clean, plan more trees and segregate garbage," said Jennifer Engineer, a Santarine.
Starting off on a modest note, the Santa brigade today consists of a dynamic troupe of 50 lovely ladies who divide themselves at malls, multiplexes, schools, and even parties.
"Santa entails compassion, patience and a maternal touch. It is because of these qualities that a woman instead of a man would be best suited to be Santa, and so we came together," Hyacinth Arya, organiser, Santa Brigade said talking about why they dress up as Santa.