news details |
|
|
| Jammu celebrates Christmas with a massage of religious harmony | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 25: Christmas bells are ringing and Santa was there with his bagful of gifts. The joy and festive spirit of the occasion has spread across the entire city. The city is busting with Christmas cheer and festivity on the occasion of Cristmas.
Heralding the spirit of the festival, the market was flooded with high end goodies. Not only the big malls and various outlets in the city are shining brightly to entice the crowd, but the roadside shops too are leaving no stone unturned to attract the customers. The Christmas trees are available in various sizes. Attractive stars and other decorations to illuminate the Christmas tree are all available here.
The rows of sparkling ubiquitous fir tree of various heights welcome visitors at Archies' and Hallmark. The bells and stars are decorated with sequins. Varieties of X'mas cards exuding the festive spirit are there at the shops.
Asamantha, a teacher said, "It's all about attending Midnight mass on Christmas eve, singing carols but most of all catching up with relatives and celebrating the birth of Christ".
Puneet Kumar, a shopkeeper said "we are had a good business this Christmas. The festival is not limited to just one community. Now-a-days various schools organize activities and celebrate the festivals as one."
"The reason behind the celebrations is to make the children learn the traditions and culture of every religion and help them develop unity in diversity. Students come and ask for caps, bells, X'mas trees, and stars, hence good sale," he added.
In connection with Christmas celebrations, card making competitions are organized in the schools. Students pick up glitters, cottons, colours and pencils and pour life to their Christmas cards. Some place beads and join them with ribbons, making the cards more attractive. The greeting cards are then distributed to the friends and well wishers on the occasion.
On 25th December, in the 'silent and holy night' with brightly lit candles, thousands of believers in the city will come together to celebrate Christmas with special holy mass service. Christmas carols and candle light processions will be organized in many churches. All the Churches are all decked up with colourful lights and stars. Decorated cribs and Christmas tree are adding to its charm.
Father Roy Mathew of Gandhi Nagar Catholic Church informed, "Charistmas is a very special day and the sense of solidarity I have seen with Jammu people is commendable. I have worked all over India and I have worked abroad I have not seen anywhere that people from all religions coming in such large number and celebrating."
"On the day of charistmas from morning 8 am onwards till 10:30 pm in the night almost ten lakh people visit the church.
They worship here and it seems like it is a common festival for Jammu people. There is no religious barrier. I take it as a message from Jammu people.
There is a sense of unity here in Jammu. I really appreciate that Jammu is a place of religious harmony," he added. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
