TV
Bhubaneswar: The entire State, including the temple city of Bhubaneswar, is soaked in Christmas spirit as various churches get busy in preparations for the festival. Various programmes have started and have been planned for December 25 in several places in the state including Cuttack, Balasore, Rourkela, Kandhamal.
All churches in the state are illuminated with dazzling lights over the bell towers with red and green streamers along the walls and stars over the main aisle.
In Bhubaneswar, preparations for this year’s Christmas celebrations are in full swing at St Vincent’s Catholic Church in Satya Nagar here. Like previous years, the organisers have bedecked the worship place and its premises with Christmas Tree, lights, stars, bells, music and chimes. On Christmas Eve, carol singing followed by masses will be celebrated at the church.
“The preparations are going on in full swing in our Church and we are expecting to celebrate the Christmas with joy and happiness,” said Prasana Singh, father of Cuttack Cantonment Church.
Speaking on the occasion, Smerina, a Christian said, “We are very much excited as we are planning to meet friends and distribute cakes after offering prayers to Jesus Christ.”
Meanwhile, Kui Samaj Samnawya Samiti (KSSS), a tribal organization, has called for a Kandhamal bandh tomorrow following failure of its talks with the district administration over its 34 point charter of demand.
Following this, the security arrangements have been heightened and security apparatus put on high alert to ensure peaceful passage of Christmas in the district.
“This bandh call is not against the Christians as we are working for the well-being of the people of the district. The district administration had invited us to the meeting today to discuss our demands which failed. We stick to our bandh call on December 25,” said Lambodara Kanhar, president of KSSS.
“We have made adequate security arrangements in the district to ensure a peaceful Christmas Day celebration,” said Yamini Sarangi, Kandhamal collector.
