WINNING The Fiji Times Largest Santa Stocking Christmas Competition was indeed a great new year's gift for Bhagwanji Kantilal Bhindi and his family at Laucala Beach in Suva.
Mr Bhindi, a lecturer at the Fiji National University, won the competition after he wrote the winning entry poem that highlighted what Christmas meant to him and his family.
He won a four-feet Santa stocking filled with gifts worth more than $4000 for him and his family. Fiji Times Ltd marketing manager Fotokalafi Ledua said the stocking was filled with an Olympus VG-140 Digital Camera from Tappoo, a pair of Nike Egoli soccer boots, Samsung Galaxy Tablet from Digicel, Titan Ladies Watch and five packs of Revlon Moisture Stay lipstick from Tappoo.
Ms Ledua said the stocking also consisted of a Goodman Fielder hamper, cartons of Coca- Cola, cartons of Minute Maid Pulpy Orange and Tappoo snack packs.
Mr Bhindi said he simply described what Christmas meant to him and his family in the winning poem.
"Christmas to us was about rebuilding old connections, spending time together, reuniting scattered families and re-evaluating the future.
"I was inspired by my wife and son in writing the poem and we had sent in over 25 different entries for the competition. I have always been into poetry and I hope to inspire people through poetry, particularly on events in the country," he said.