Jamshedpur, Dec. 22: The stage is set for holding the traditional Christmas midnight religious ceremonies at various churches in the city on Friday. Various churches in Jamshedpur have been especially illuminated for the festive occasion.
Thousands of Christians are expected to attend the Christmas celebrations at the churches on Thursday night. The celebrations will commence with nearly half-an-hour carol singing at all the churches. Crib sets depicting the scene of nativity and having statues of the child Jesus, Mother Mary, St Joseph, shepherds, three wise kings and angels will be the main attraction at the midnight Christmas service.
The highlights of the Christmas midnight celebrations will be the mass celebrated by Jamshedpur Bishop. Christmas prayers will be held at various churches of the city.
Various cultural programmes including get-together of church members have also been organised during the Christmas festival period, which will conclude with the New Year celebrations. The Beldih Club and various other clubs have started the preparations and are all decked up for the occasion.
Also, the retail market for seasonal decorations in the city has sparkled over the past five years, as the selling of seasonal trimmings has become even more lucrative. �The industry has expanded over the past five years as holidays such as Christmas has become increasingly commercialised,� said Rahul Sachdev, a shopkeeper.
City youths are thronging shops to buy decorative items for Christmas, including Christmas trees, Santa Claus dolls, stars, baubles, bells and light.
People have also brought Christmas trees and tinsel streamers, baubles, stars, lights, stockings, bells to decorate their homes. �People from all religions celebrate Christmas. The new generation wants to celebrate Christmas,� said Kunal, a shopkeeper in Bistupur.