Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 25: Christmas—the birthday of Jesus Christ—was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety across the State with members of Christian community thronging the churches and performing the prayers.
As bells tolled, worshipers’ thronged churches and cathedrals decorated with twinkling lights to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Sparkling Christmas trees and gift items adorned marketplaces that wore a festive look as community feasts and exchange of greetings marked the occasion.
In Jammu, huge number of Christian community members and people from different faiths visited St Peter’s Garrison Church at Gandhi Nagar and St Mary’s Church at Residency Road. Christians localities also wore a festive look with inhabitants distributing sweets and greeting each other. People of other communities also greeted the members of Christian community on the occasion.
“With so many disturbing things happening across the globe, especially terrorism and prevailing unrest in the Kashmir Valley which has affected every nation, we prayed for peace in the world so that every human being lives without fear,” said a group of children at St Peter’s Garrison Church at Gandhi Nagar.
In the evening, people were seen lighting the candles in the churches and offering prayers for communal harmony, brotherhood and peace.
Meanwhile, Christmas was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety in Kashmir but the celebrations were subdued due to recent unrest in Valley.
The minuscule Christian community in the Valley had decided to celebrate Christmas with austerity. The Holy Family Catholic Church at Maulana Azad Road was not decorated this time and it was limited to the interiors. The carol singing and the parade were also cancelled. Hundreds of Christians thronged the Holy Family Catholic Church and prayed for the peace in Kashmir Valley.
Talking to EXCELSIOR, Father Roy said the Christmas Day is the “most important day” for the followers of Jesus Christ, who came with the message of peace. He said the prayers were held for all those who suffered during recent turmoil in Kashmir.
Children, men and women devotees donning colourful clothes greeted each other on this auspicious day and exchanged flower bouquets. The Santa Clause was seen giving away gifts to the children. “This is my first Christmas in Kashmir and we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ who gave the great message to the humanity of peace, of joy, happiness to be compassionate and good values we must nurture in our lives”, said a devotee.
The Christmas was also celebrated in the churches of Baramulla and Gulmarg in North Kashmir. However the attendance of the devotees was very low in churches compared to past as very less tourists are present in Valley.
Christian community also celebrated the Christmas with religious fervor and gaiety at Leh. The Moravian Church in Leh was decorated with colorful lights and candles where people gather to sing and dance to celebrate the occasion.
Pastor ES Gergan reading phrases from Bible gave teaching to the gathering and said that the message of Christmas is peace, prosperity and unity.
On the occasion, Ladakh Christian Association President Deachen Chamga, LBA President Tsewang Thinles, Anjuman Imamiya President Asharf Ali Barcha and Anjuman Moin Ul-Islam President Asharf Ali Barcha also addressed the gathering.
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