Jamshedpur, Dec 20: With nip in the air Christians across the city are soaked in festive spirit as they are singing carols in decked up churches while attending special prayers. The churches are well decorated
The midnight mass precedes the Christmas day and the church resounds with joyful singing of Christmas carols and thanksgiving. The people of Jamshedpur also soaked themselves in the festive spirit as Christmas brings with it goodwill and festivity, which seemed to overwhelm people as they make merry.
On the eve of Christmas day, a mass midnight prayer will be organised in elaborate decoration will be done on this occasion at all the churches in city including St Mary’s Church, Bistupur, Beldih Baptist Church, Northern Town and St Anthony’s Church in Pursudih.
Officials of St Mary’s Church said that the tableaux of Jesus Christ are specially made for this auspicious occasion. The entire premises has been decorated where people belonging to all sections will light candles on Christmas day.
Meanwhile a lot of shops in Bistupur and Sakchi are decked up with Christmas and New Year cards, decoration items, not to mention stars and Christmas trees-the city will be painted in red and white to bring in the Yuletide with fervour.
Mouth–watering Christmas cakes have been displayed at famous shops like Relish, Howrah Bakery and Brubeck Bakery. The youth are especially excited to celebrate the occasion with devotion. People are making a beeline for shops to buy attractive Christmas trees, cakes, gifts and decorative bells, despite skyrocketing prices.
Special midnight holy mass will be organised at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral and other major churches. Just before the midnight mass, an image of child Jesus was brought by the priest preceded by rows of children holding lighted candles that were placed in the crib set up in the churches.
Special prayers were offered at churches and the pastors rendered select chapters from the Holy Bible. They exhorted the community members to be good to others and set an example.
“Jesus Christ was an apostle of peace and called upon people to coexist with camaraderie and brotherhood to spread peace. Christmas festival ushers in peace in lives of people all round the globe,” said Robert Fernandes, a resident of Northern Town
Meanwhile a Christmas party was also organised at different hotels in which children had a blast with their favorite Santa Claus, who distributed sweets among them.
Special Christmas feasts were organised in several Christian houses in the city. Many cultural organisations have organised Christmas feast for the inmates of old age homes and orphanages in the city. A voluntary organisation organised distribution of clothes, food materials and cakes for beggars in the city. Clothes and sweets were distributed to the poor.
