Chennai's Egmore will host the grand Christmas ball at Faiz Mahal this evening from 7 p.m., organized by the Anglo-Indian community but open to all. This tradition, spanning decades, has evolved from railway institutes to private halls.
The Anglo-Indian grand Christmas ball has been a key part of Chennai's cultural heritage. On December 25, the 'Care ’n’ Share Christmas Ball' will take place at Faiz Mahal in Egmore from 7 p.m. to 11.30 p.m., organized by Anglo-Indians but open to everyone.
In the twentieth century, the epicenter of Anglo-Indian social life was the Railway Institutes, particularly in Perambur. “Earlier, the majority of Anglo-Indians worked in the Indian Railways,” says Harry MacLure, publisher and editor of Anglos in the Wind. “So all our balls and dances naturally happened there.” Christmas dances, Easter balls, and other events unfolded yearly, welcoming Anglo-Indians beyond railway employees.
These were formal events with live bands playing all night, featuring waltzes, foxtrots, and jives. By the 1970s and 80s, migration led to a shift from railway venues to places like Binny’s, then to Egmore's Shiraz Hall and Faiz Mahal. “Shiraz has been happening for at least 20 years,” Harry notes. The community maintains strong ties with the Muslim families owning these halls.
Now, DJs and singers with backing tracks complement live bands. Food has evolved from pork fry and cutlets to include pasta and Manchurian. Treasure Jacob of the Forum of Anglo-Indian Women recalls her first dance in 1988: “I did not know how to dance at all. He told me, ‘Do not worry, I will teach you.’”
Many Anglo-Indians return from Australia, especially Perth, for Christmas. Smaller gatherings continue in Pallavaram, Tambaram, and St Thomas Mount. “Each place has its own mood,” Harry says. “But the identity comes from the people.”
