Jamshedpur: Despite the threat of Covid-19 looming large around the city, 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. Like every year the bishop house at Golmuri is being decked up for the celebration.
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 the 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 sections will light up candles on the Christmas day.
“We are concerned about the Covid-19 but we will make sure that the celebrations are as perCovid-19 protocols. We have been working in this area for last several months and as a token of gesture we could involve Santa Claus as a special messenger during this Christmas,” said an official.
A member of the Young Men’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.
The markets are flooded with Christmas items with new and various kinds of showpieces, gifts and decorative items on offer. Starting from Christmas bells of various sizes to designer candles, everything comes at an affordable range at the gift shops in the city. As always Christmas trees, this time available in different colours are available at a range of Rs 1000. Apart from the traditional green, trees made up of golden, silver and glittering green have caught the eyes of customers in the city.
Shops have a number of gift items, the new attraction this year being the musical and moving showpieces with mother Mary and Jesus christ. Snow balls are also available where tiny thermocol pieces have been used to create the snowy effect inside the ball with Santa Claus inside it. This costs Rs 2000. Christmas bells for decoration purposes are also available at Rs 649 per set.