Hyacinth Arya (extreme left) with her Santas giving gifts to children. pics/ shree lahiri
JINGLE BELLS
WHAT'S ON met Hyacinth Arya of the Santa Brigade, to get an update on what she has been doing to spread the Yuletide spirit in the city
It's that time of the year when there are Christmas trees, stockings, mistletoes and chocolates. The festive season is here and Santa Claus has been working hard to prepare for it. In fact, there are a group of Santas on the job.
The Santa Brigade, headed by Hyacinth Arya, has started sending Santas all over the city to entertain kids and Puneites. As Christmas approaches, her role is to supply Santas to the city's schools, malls and even offices.
She has a team of 45 Santas, out of which 30 are women, who are sometimes accompanied by elves and pixies.
It is a prestigious task as being a Santa is a huge responsibility on one's shoulders, and Santa stand-ins must live up to the benchmark. There must be no shabby costumes, beard or whiskers falling off, or grubby gloves.
When did you start the Santa Brigade? Hyacinth: I saw some badly dressed Santas and that's when I started this brigade in 1994 on a small scale. Initially, I only went with food to the Society of Orphan Children of Sassoon Hospital and an old age home called Sandhya Homes, to cheer them up. Then, I started dressing up as a lady Santa without a beard, primarily to bring joy to the children and old people.
I believe a lady Santa is more acceptable, as she dispels the fear factor that parents may have as far as the girl child is concerned. The lady Santas went to schools and malls, and the male Santas went to corporate offices or anywhere where it would get late at night.
What was the training you gave your Santas? Hyacinth: For me, participation is of prime importance. So, the role has to be played to perfection. After an opening round, it's time for the real work to begin as the Santas are educated in important festive facts.
The clothes are especially stitched so that you cannot even make out that Santa is a woman. The eyebrows, the belly, the gloves and the boots are all carefully contrived. Even the body language the voice, grip and gait, has to be credible and convincing.
For women, voice modulation has to be practiced and perfected. They even run through a set of questions and answers that the children may ask, so that they have relevant answers.
Apart from creating more responsible Santas, how else were they different? Hyacinth: Three years ago, I introduced the eco-friendly Green Santa to spread the message of conserving nature. I bought a hundred trees and got the kids to plant them in schools, but that was not the end of the story. We had follow-up visits and checked if the children kept records and were looking after the plants. Thus, we ensured the concept was kept alive in the minds of the children. Then, I introduced the health and fitness theme with a Thin Santa.
What was the impact on the kids? Hyacinth: The Green and Thin Santa really spread the message of promoting greenness and fitness very affectively. Obese Santas are no longer acceptable, and this is a trend I have noticed.
People are much more fitness conscious these days and, therefore, prefer a fit Santa. Also, little children get afraid of Santas with large tummies that might look unnatural.
One lady called me to say that her son Ryan told her husband he has to reduce weight since Santa has reduced. We may soon have a Santa with a six-pack soon.
How would you describe your satisfaction? Hyacinth: Children are reallymarvelous. Their eagerness to know is boundless and the look of sheer joy on their faces is something that brings immense satisfaction as well.
What do her Santas feel? Arti Vibhute, a lady Santa in her team, says, "Our motherly feelings take centrestage, and we can handle kids better." Santa Bernadette, who has kids herself, enjoys taking them along with her sometimes, dressed up as elves.
Catch Santa Claus live at >>Ishanya Mall from December 26 to December 28 >>Schools from December 15 onwards >>Joyrides on the buggy near Homeland, East Street on December 24 and December 26 at 6 pm >>At Crossword, ICC and Sohrab Hall on December 24 and December 25, from 6 pm to 8 pm
