Kochi/Bangalore, Dec.24: As last minute preparations for Christmas fiesta are going full swing, popular markets and venues in Kerala and Bangalore are welcoming the festival in their own special way.

In Kochi (Kerala), markets are bedecked with various decorative items.

Glittering stars, bells painted gold or silver, candy sticks, tinsel, balloons and ornaments from glass, metal, wood and ceramic, besides scrumptious cakes are all around in the markets offering a visual delight to the Christmas shoppers.

Kochi’s busiest place Broadway market is bustling with Christmas paraphernalia and stars of different colours and size as well as names from the latest hit movies of Bollywood and Mollywood.

The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree with the angel or star often placed atop and representing a host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem, as well as the picture of a small crib with the nativity scene, is a must here.

In Bangalore, the Christmas celebrations are incomplete without cakes.

The 33rd Annual Nilgiris Cake Show and International lifestyle Exhibition being organised here by Nilgiris and the National Consumer Fair, started on December 21. It will last till December 31 (Monday) this year.

The main attraction of the show is Bangalore Palace cake that has been prepared at a cost of nearly rupees 450,000.

On earlier occasions too, the Nilgiris group has captivated everyone’s attention by exhibiting fascinating cake models.

This year’s attraction being Bangalore Palace cake standing 19.5 feet high made of about 4.5 tons of sugar and being preserved at a constant temperature of 40 degree Celsius.

"This year, we have made the Bangalore Palace cake that measures 19.5 feet high. It is 62.5 feet in length and 19.5 feet in depth. We have used 4.5 ton of sugar and edible Gelatin to manufacture this supermodel," said C. Ramachandran, Director of the Nilgiris group.

It took nearly 25 men to prepare this sugary palace model in about four months.

Moreover, the cake show also has other interesting features like a Santa Villa, the delicately done floral arrangements and the Veena, the classical musical instrument.

Other attractions at the Nilgiris Cake Show and International lifestyle Exhibition are Ship, Kiddies Wheel, Jurassic Park, Windsor Castle, Cinderalla Coach and a peacock.

Bangalore has been hosting a cake show for 30 years as a tradition on Christmas.

Also on offer are the arrangements for mouth-watering delicacies being sold at various stalls. Be it rich plum cake, marzipan, chocolates, cookies, ice cream, dairy desserts and many other Christmas goodies, all are enticing the visitors flocking here with a Christmas mood.

Started in 1969, the Nilgiris exhibition is one of its kinds till date. It is enlisted in the Limca Book of records. (ANI)