Jamshedpur: Christmas is around the corner and there are festivities in the air. It�s that time of the year again when Church choirs organise carol singing to spread the festive spirit of Christmas.
Christmas preparations are in full swing in the city. Various choir groups have started rehearsing carol singing. All churches in the city and the cantonment are being decked up for the big occasion.
�It is the time of the year where mainly college students come together and go house to house carol singing. It is the sheer joy of coming together, which is very healthy.
Even though we are stressed in our lives this activity of singing brings smiles and helps us to forget all problems. It brings colours to the festivities.� says Simon D�souza, a young professional.
Like every year the bishop house at Golmuri is being decked up for the celebration where more than 500 people are expected to gather on Christmas day.
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 Parsudih.
Officials of St Mary’s Church said that the tableaux of Jesus Christ would specially be made for this auspicious occasion. The entire premises would also be decorated where people belonging to all section will light up candles on the Christmas day.
The Jamshedpur United Christians Forum (JUCF) has planned to make Santa Claus spread the message of prevention from Dengue and Malaria. �We have been working in this area for last several months and as a token of gesture we could involve Santa Claus as a especial messenger during this Christmas,� said Jonathan Mohapatra, general secretary, JUCF.
� Christmas is a time when communities unite in their celebrations. �It has been a long time since we have had a good Christmas Concert�, said Ronald D�Costa who is a Goan by descent.
The Anglo-Indian Association took up the challenge and together we bring to you an evening of Gospel Rock and Christmas Carols through this public performance by a professional group from Kolkata � �The Voice Stars�, on 12 December at Rabindra Bhavan, Sakchi.
“Voicestra (a name which comes from “Orchestrated Voices”) is a professionally managed choral group directed and led by Nikhil DSouza. The group covers songs across various genre, including western classical, Gospel, Country, music from the 60’s and 70’s and a lot more. Voicestra released its first Gospel music album in the summer of 2014.
The members of Voicestra spread across Kolkata, Jamshedpur and Gurgaon with their youngest being students from class 11 to adults who work across various industries including education, research, medical and airways. Their primary intention is to spread the message of peace and love through music.
The Bishop of Jamshedpur, Rev. Felix Toppo, S.J. has very kindly consented to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.
A member of the Young Man�s Christian Association (YMCA) said that in the changed scenario the role of Santa Claus should be amended in accordance with the requirement and demand of the time.
�The society at large is confronting various problems at different streams and there is no harm in employing Santa Claus for a greater cause,� said the YMCA member.
During the last week of the December Santa Claus, generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots could be traced at popular places in the city wishing Christmas and New Year greetings and distributing chocolates among the pedestrians particularly among the children.