Mangalore : Raj Pinto(40) a citizen from Valencia in Jeppu has been acting as a Santa Claus to hundreds of Children every year for the last 3 years from 2010 till now.

On Friday morning we found him walking along the streets of Kankanady and Jeppu, followed by little children seeking gifts for Christmas. He stopped in the evenings at St. Vincents Ferrer Church in Velencia and was surrounded by noisy and happy children whom he showered with gifts like chocolates and flying balloons and other hand-outs, up to 9 pm every day.

He was spending Rs.5000 every year for the last 3 years, from his pocket working hard as an event manager at many functions. He went round every day during Christmas season from Dec. 15 to 25 from 6 pm to 9 pm around St. Vincent Parrish to meet Christian families sing Carrols and give message for happy Christmas to one and all in the locality, be they poor or middle class families with children.

They would surround him when they see his attire of Santa Claus and ask for gifts, pointing to the Christmas tree with electric lamp and colourful papers and shining leaves to place his packet of gifts there.

Thus he will move on from house to house by dozens at night and entertain the entire Parrish in Christmas season till the midnight Mass of Christmas on Dec 24.

We wish Raj Pinto every success in his charitable works during Christmas.