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Carols, crackers mark Christmas in Andhra
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Hyderabad, Dec 25 (IANS)
Special prayers in churches at midnight, carols and the bursting of fire crackers marked Christmas celebrations in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and other parts of Andhra Pradesh.
A festive atmosphere prevailed in Secunderabad, which has a sizeable population of Christians. Celebrations were also held at Hyderabad, Medak, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Ongole, Kadapa, Bheemavaram and other towns.
Attired in their best, men, women and children attended the midnight services in specially decorated churches. Prayers in some churches began early Sunday.
Major congregations were held at St John's Church, St Mary's Church, All Saint's Church and Millennium Methodist Church in Secunderabad. The priests prayed for peace and highlighted the message of Jesus' birth.
The Anglo-Indian community in Lalaguda in Secunderabad celebrated the festival with enthusiasm and in a traditional manner. In Little England, as Lalaguda is known, the community celebrated the festival in their own style with groups of men and women going from house to house, singing merrily all the time.
The three-day celebrations also began at the historic Church of South India (CSI) at Medak, about 100 km from here. Believers carried a decorated cross into the church and placed it before an artificially-created hut, bringing alive memories of Jesus' birth.
One of the best churches in India, CSI has been built with granite in Gothic style with story of Bible painted on its stained glass windows.
Devotees from different parts of the state participated in the celebrations at the church.
YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, along with his mother Y.S. Vijayamma and other family members, participated in the prayers at CSI church at Pulivendula in Kadapa district.
Earlier, the family paid tributes at the grave of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at Idupulapaya.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and leaders of various political parties greeted the people on Christmas.
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