The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Bangalore witnesses holiday exodus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 22, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bangalore witnesses holiday exodus

Anil Kumar Sastry

For many, it is an extended weekend

BANGALORE: With Bakrid, Christmas and a weekend sandwiched in between, Bangalore has again slipped into holiday mood and there is exodus again.

December 21 (Friday) and 25 (Tuesday) being government holidays, all that the government employees have to do is apply leave on Saturday and Monday to enjoy that glorious extended weekend.

And many have already started their onward journey outside Bangalore.

Like during the Ganesha Chaturthi, Dasara and Deepavali, all roads leading to Majestic area in the city were clogged on Thursday evening. Sharp showers, accompanied by December chill, did not dampen their zeal.

Thursday evening witnessed a gridlock in the area and the jam extended all the way to Minerva Circle, Sujata cinema, Richmond Circle, Basaveshwara Circle and Race Course Road. But not everybody was complaining. For John D’Souza, working with an MNC, Christmas holiday on Tuesday has come as a blessing so that he can prepare well for the festival.

As his company has five-day working week, he is off on Saturday too and has taken leave on Monday.

Time to visit relatives

For many who do not celebrate Christmas, it is time to visit their near and dear ones located far off from Bangalore.

Rajaram Shetty from Mangalore who works in the Education Department was fortunate enough to get leave on Saturday and Monday. He is planning to visit his parents at Mangalore and is all prepared to board the new Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore Express on Thursday. A.N. Hegde, an advocate, is visiting his brother-in-law in Vasco-da-Gama in Goa.

“I had not visited them ever since our wedding six years ago and I thought it is time to visit them,” Mr. Hegde said.

As the couple will be staying with their relatives, the Hegdes are not bothered about non-availability of hotel accommodation or the exorbitant price tag during the festival season in Goa.

Beginning November and ending February, it is peak tourist season in Goa where accommodation is scarcely available at a high tariff. Buses and trains towards Kerala are packed with a good number of Christians from that State who have settled in Bangalore.

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