India, Jan. 5 -- Jaipur does winter differently. The cold arrives with a certain old-world romance, crisp evenings, quieter roads, and a city that feels even more steeped in culture once the sun dips low. It was one such winter sunset that set the tone for our evening at Birla Auditorium, as we headed there for the opening night of The Winter Flea 2025 and its much-awaited Secret Santa Charity Ball.

As the sky shifted from soft amber to deep blue, Birla Auditorium revealed itself in full festive splendour. The iconic facade was transformed with towering Christmas trees, reindeers and sleighs projected across the building, instantly transporting you out of Rajasthan and into a European winter fantasy. It felt surreal, in the best way pos...