GUWAHATI, Dec 25 - Soaked in the spirit of festivity, the State is celebrating Christmas today along with the rest of the world, with holy prayers in the churches and sound of carols reverberating in the air. A festival of the believers of Christianity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Earth, Christmas has now become an occasion of joy and merry-making for the people of all communities and religions in the State.
The festival started with special midnight masses in the churches last night as Christmas Eve turned into Christmas. The devout Christians attended the morning prayers in the churches and greeted each other on the occasion.
Christmas carols added to the festivity with individual artistes and gospel bands enthralling crowds with popular numbers like �Jingle bells�, �O come all�, �Silent night holy night�, �Joy to the world�, �Drummer boy�, etc.
Along with other parts of the State, different churches of the city commenced today�s celebration with prayers. Then followed refreshments and community feast. The main celebration of the city�s Catholic community was held on the premises of St Joseph�s Cathedral, also known as Don Bosco Church, Panbazar.
Guwahati Baptist Church and Christ Church, Panbazar and other churches on GS Road, Christianbasti, Rukminigaon, Borjhar, Satgaon and Dispur were teeming with people, both devotees and visitors.
People lit up candles and offered prayers in the evening as well. In the cathedrals, prayers were offered seeking divine blessings for peace and prosperity of the State.
�We had the Christmas Service at 9.30 today along with some special presentation. The church choir presented Christmas carols and all partook in feasting. Thousands of visitors thronged the church premises to celebrate the festival with us,� Father Angel Daimary of the Christ Church at Panbazar told The Assam Tribune.
A carnival-like atmosphere prevailed around the St Joseph�s Cathedral, which is visited by maximum number of people every year. The beautifully decorated church with attractive presentation of �Nativity� attracted the onlookers, especially during the evening. Small kiosks selling candles, souvenirs, Christmas caps and Santa Claus masks were a huge hit among the children.
Christmas was also celebrated in a number of church sub-centres and missionary schools of the city. As Monday was a holiday on account of Christmas, people in large numbers came out for holidaying with family and friends. The shopping malls, markets and recreation centres were also seen abuzz with Christmas enthusiasts.
Christmas Eve and Christmas were celebrated at Siloam Prayer Tower and Gauri Sadan by Siloam and Seed Sowing Ministry.
Rev Dr Bulon Dutta and Pastor Siddhartha Chaudhury, the organisers of the event, gave an account of the proposed month-long Christmas activities. Members from different parts of the North East performed carol, skits, choreography and short sharing in many languages on Christmas Eve at Siloam Prayer Tower, Borbari, last night.
Christmas prayer was organised at Gauri Sadan by Seed Sowing Ministry today from 12 noon. They also joined the celebrations at Guwahati Baptist Church.
