Udupi: Towering Santa spreads cheer

The Hindu

Udupi, 25 December 2010: People in the city were pleasantly surprised when a giant 16-foot statue of Santa Claus was taken in a procession by the Udupi Zilla Nagarika Samiti here on Friday. In fact, it was the cynosure of all eyes. Below the float, two boys dressed as Santa Claus waved at the people, who responded back cheerfully. These two boys distributed chocolates en-route.

 

 

A band set before the truck announced its arrival to the people. Crackers were burst at regular intervals.

 

The procession, which began from the busy Diana Circle and passed through the Court Road, Taluk Office Circle, Police Lines, Mission Compound, and culminated at the premises of the United Basel Mission Jubilee Church (established in 1854). At the church, the float was removed from the truck and fixed to the ground there. The statue will remain there till the New Year’s Day.

 

The statue was prepared using Styrofoam and 25 metres of cloth.

 

One kg of cotton was used to prepare the beard of Santa Claus. Its approximate weight is 70 kg and is six feet wide.

 

A team of six artists prepared the statue. One of the artists U. Vishwanath said he had doubts when the statue was first ordered.

 

But with the help of five other artists — Yogi Malpe, Ashwatha Bailakere, Sunil Bailakere, Kishen Bailakere and Jayaprakash Chitpady, the statue was prepared.

 

“We all artists cooperated with another to do the statue. It took us five days to complete this statue,” Mr. Vishwanath said.