Santapaws Xtravaganza a stellar success

Friday, 6 December 2024 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Santapaws Xtravaganza, a Christmas Bazaar with a difference in aid of Rescue Animals Sri Lanka (RAS), held on 1 December at the Cinnamon Grand, exuded festive cheer, hospitality, warmth and joie de vivre, with an atmosphere redolent with the spirit of loving and giving, not forgetting fabulous shopping! After all, this was a bazaar that benefitted both animals as well as people. It was a Christmas Bazaar, where holiday cheer met a cause close to our hearts —Animal Welfare. An important feature of the Santapaws Xmas bazaar was that RAS had given five complimentary stalls to Human Charities close to their hearts, namely The Indira Cancer Trust, Alzheimer’s Foundation, Helpage, Sisters At Law – a charity that helps abused women and girls, and The Rehabilitation Centre for the Communication Impaired (RCCI), for them to sell goods and raise funds for their own charities. The ‘Jax Dip’ a lucky dip named after the RAS mascot, a miniature Dachshund whose spine is broken in three places, is currently at the Cinnamon Grand Lobby and will be there till 18 December, so do drop in a toy, an item of clothing or dry food, as all of these items will be distributed amongst the children at the Cancer Hospital and the Jinananda Orphanage in Wellawatte.

The Chief Guest at this very unique and novel event was to be US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, but unfortunately she was stranded in Abu Dhabi and Executive Director of the United States – Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission Dr. Patrick McNamara, came in her place, and together with little Jax the RAS mascot, were the stars of the show. Cinnamon Colombo Hotels Area Vice President and Cinnamon Grand Colombo General Manager Kamal Munasinghe, a staunch supporter of RAS and all its activities was also presented with a memento by Jax, while RAS co-founder Anusha David and the RAS team, the Cinnamon Grand team, and other partners of the Bazaar and well-wishers were present.

From the moment the doors opened, shoppers were dazzled by the array of goods on sale from 60 different stalls including, ladies, gents and kids clothing, footwear, dolls and kids games, cosmetics, both Batik as well as regular saris, jewellery, skin care, dreamy nightwear, handmade Designer handbags, accessories, homemade wines, chutneys and pickles, organic foods, Xmas décor, table and bed linen, cushions, arts and crafts, stationery and greeting cards, crochet and knitted products, scented candles, perfumes, health and gluten free foods , Vegan foods , bath and body care, Xmas goodies, a range of specialty foods from the Cinnamon Grand, macramé, household items, and well – just about everything you need for a Very Merry Christmas and a Fabulous New Year!

The Santapaws Xtravaganza wasn’t just a bazaar — it was a chance to make a difference to all who inhabit this wonderful planet of ours, helping to make the world a little brighter for all creatures, great and small.

A big thank you from RAS goes out to all their wonderful partners without whom this bazaar would not be a reality – The Best Address in Town, The Cinnamon Grand, social media partner Zelus, print media partner Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., videographer Proimage, Brian Kerkoven, NIRU, Linen and I, Mega Lifesciences, OfficeMax, Fashion Bug, and so many friends and well-wishers, too numerous to mention, all of whom worked hard to make this Bazaar a reality.