Shillong, Dec 25: Midnight services in churches across Meghalaya heralded the birth of Jesus Christ as tourists and locals joined in the festivities with religious fervour, mixed with merriment of exchanging greetings and gifts with friends and relatives.
Christians in Meghalaya on Wednesday celebrated Christmas with great fervour, exchanging greetings and gifts with friends and relatives.
“We are enjoying this Christmas, although it’s too cold here but our enthusiasm is not less,” said Liza Lyngdoh, a college student.
For 14 year old Andrew, Christmas mean a lot more than holiday, it the time to meet all his relative, “whole year I wait for Christmas because this is the time my siblings come back home and we get chance to spend time together.”
Bishops and pastors led services and delivered sermons in cathedrals and churches of different Christian denominations.
The celebration of Christmas actually began on Tuesday by the Christians as the clock stuck 12, a special midnight mass and church services began in the State.
The faithful thronged various churches to celebrate the birth of Jesus through prayers. People exchanged greetings after the prayers in various churches.
“We were not sure that this year we would be able to visit Shillong but now I am very excited visiting this hill station, I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas,” says Jewel who is on a week long trip to Shillong with his friends.
The church services and mass continued on Wednesday in many churches in the State. Besides putting up stars, churches, houses and buildings were illuminated.
Meghalaya’s capital city of Shillong was decked up for Christmas and the forthcoming New Year celebrations as government and private buildings as well as street corners were illuminated and decorated with Christmas trees, banners and festoons. Special programmes including traditional Christmas carols and colourful processions rendered the air festive and solemn.
Tourists flocked to this hill state to participate in the Christmas celebrations as well as to take a taste of the winter season. Individual artistes and gospel bands enthralled crowds with traditional Christmas songs like ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’. Hectic last minute shopping and nightlong concerts marked the Christmas Eve.
Commercial hubs of the city like Police Bazar and Iewduh (Barabazar were crowded with people buying clothes, foodstuff and other Christmas items for the past one week. Long queues were seen in front of prominent bakeries in the city selling ‘designer’ cakes.
Young Julie, a resident of Nongthymai said, “Yes we do make cake but Christmas we prefer to buy since these are special designer cakes,”
Like every year Christmas cakes are in great demand too. Meghalaya Governor KK Paul wished people a joyful Christmas. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, on behalf of his cabinet colleagues, also wished people a very happy Christmas.(SP News)
