From biryani to sorpotel: How different communities in Bengaluru celebrate Christmas

Christmas meals in Indian homes are unique. With Christianity’s roots dating back 2,000 years in the subcontinent, food is a repository of influences from around the world. From Portuguese delicacies to traditional English fries, they all find their place on the table. In Bengaluru, which is home to Christian families from all over the country, the traditional lunch can take many different forms.

british roots

Clive VanBuerle is a quintessential Anglo-Indian but true-blue Bengaluru boy of Dutch and English descent. “On Christmas day, we usually cook with my siblings and their families. There’s lots of food and games.” The potluck typically features chicken roast, pork roast, or camel roast, along with sides such as Russian salad, ribs, Christmas pudding, meatballs, and shepherd’s pie.

“For an Anglo-Indian, Christmas is where we celebrate our Anglo roots. The rest of the year we live an ‘Indian’ life. If you come home, I have rice, dal or rasam. But Christmas is all about the Anglo side.”

Throughout the season, you can enjoy treats such as homemade ginger wine, kulkul and rose cookies. “All of these recipes have been passed down through generations and continue to evolve.”

Mangaluru to Bengaluru

Alexander Herman D’Souza belongs to the Mangalurean Christian community, where Christmas is one of the most loved festivals of the year. He lives in KR Puram with his family and his celebrations are based on a deep-rooted tradition; Preparations start almost a month in advance.

“One of the most special Christmas traditions in our house is preparing a meal. kuswarA collection of traditional Mangalorean Christmas sweets. The process usually begins in mid-December, at least 10 days before Christmas. Kuswar includes delicacies such as kidos, chaklios, gulio, niroo, kikkisa and rice laddoo, all of which are prepared with patience and shared with neighbors, friends and family.”

Kuswar, a collection of traditional Mangalorean Christmas sweets | Photo Credit: File photo

Traditional Mangalorean dishes like pork bafat and pork indad, chicken sukka and roce curry are staples at Christmas lunch. “Freshly prepared sannas, appams and rice noodles complete the Christmas flavor,” he shares.

A Hyderabadi’s love for biryani

Sarah Supriya grew up in Hyderabad and moved to Bengaluru after getting married 22 years ago. “There is always biryani on Christmas day,” he says.

Had authentic Hyderabadi biryani in Hyderabad.

“When I came to Bengaluru, Hyderabadi mutton biryani was replaced by donne biryani.”

Sarah makes biryani at home; neighbors and relatives gather to cook a meal. Besides Biryani, they also have kheema balls. “My mother-in-law’s specialty was pepper chicken, which we ate with rotis.”

The family makes gulab jamun and ice cream for Christmas desserts.

Sarah Supriya’s mutton biryani | Photo Credit: Special Editing

Mizo traditions

Lafakawma Ralte moved to Bengaluru eight years ago. “I am from Aizawl in Mizoram. I am a part of Mizo Presbyterian church, Bangalore.” He says chhangban is what they always do for Christmas, both in Mizoram and now here in Bengaluru.

These are snacks made from steamed and hand-pounded glutinous rice. Rice is flavored with jaggery and wrapped in leaves. “Chhangban literally means ‘sticky biscuit’. All families do this. On Christmas Eve, we get together, sing carols, and eat snacks.”

Beyond that, there are pork dishes for lunch. “One of the dishes usually eaten is pork boiled with mustard leaves or pork fried in some oil.”

Lafakawma’s wife also makes plum cake, which takes three to four months to prepare.

Mafalda Quadros’ bolinhas, coconuts and sooji Cookies. | Photo Credit: Special Editing

A Goan feast

Mafalda Quadros is a Goan Catholic who has been living in Bengaluru for 31 years. “Christmas desserts are my main focus.” There are strong Portuguese influences in the food.

Bebinca is a layered cake that Mafalda makes in a wood oven. Another Goan dessert dodolA toffee-like dessert similar to halwa from Kerala.

Batica is a cake made from soojiand coconut and a cousin thereof bolinhascookies made with the same ingredients.

Christmas lunch consists of sorpotel, a curry made with pork liver and heart cooked in red masala. Chicken or mutton xacuti is also very popular. Accompanied by curries appeareda Goan pula.

“I want to keep the tradition alive. That’s why I do everything the way we do it in Goa.”

It was published – 23 December 2025 13:34 IST