Mohsina Malik
On this occasion, Christians attend church and also sing carols and theme songs, Not just Christians, people from other communities also celebrate Christmas, the festival involves merrymaking among people.
Like many places, Amid the cold wave in Kashmir, the Christian community of the valley Friday celebrated Christmas with zest and gaiety in Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, and tourists spot Gulmarg.
All the churches of the valley were illuminated with lights and decorated with buntings, The Christians attired colourful dresses exchanging greetings with each other, distributed sweets and offered special prayers, Also local Muslims thronged the church to greet their Christian friends.
The mass prayer celebrations at Srinagar’s Holy Family Catholic Church located at Maulana Azad Road began in Friday morning and ended up in the evening.
Kashmir has one of the oldest Churches located in Gulmarg, tourists go there for Christmas celebrations too.
The biggest mass in the Valley was held at the Holy Family Catholic Church at Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar, where hundreds of Christians, including women and children, assembled to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ and held special prayers.
As part of midnight celebrations, chorus prayers were also organized, A large number of community members participated in the midnight mass.
Later special prayers were led by the Father of the church.
On the occasion, the father of the church threw light on the teachings of Jesus Christ and sent across a message of peace and love.
“We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He was born in this world to bring the message of peace. It is the celebration of God’s love in the human form,” he said. We celebrate the occasion with our Muslim friends, they come to church and greet us on the occasion. The message of Christmas is brotherhood, peace, tranquility among people, he said. May peace prevail in the valley, ” he added.
He informed The Kashmiriyat that this year, there will be small gatherings due to the pandemic, and the community will be into three groups so that everyone can visit the church.
The mass prayers were done in three phases, one in the morning, the second in the afternoon and the last one in the evening.
“I was not sure whether there will be a Christmas celebration this year due to the pandemic but was expecting we shall celebrate the occasion following Covid-19 protocols,” Somala, a Christian devotee told The Kashmiriyat.
Covid-19 protocols were followed by the devotees as set by the District Administration.
Another devotee said, “I am happy, I am here, I came to the valley this year from West Bengal in search of some work. I am not feeling I am not with my family on the occasion, people of the valley is my new family, celebrating the occasion with them has added happiness in me”.