Carols, lights and cakes await every believer as they walk into a parish hall, Christian community centre or church in the city now. Christmas is here and it is big this time.
From compelling prayer services to group camps, the community is doing it all this time.
While the Anglo Indian community in the city has arranged boat ride, community dinners and house parties, some posh pockets in the city including Begumpet, Parish centre in Banjara Hills, Road No 12 and Parklane of Secunderabad, have Christmas trees, stars and decoration on display.
To add to the red and gold frenzy of the season, in Kondapur two residential societies have even created artificial snow. “We used cotton to give it a different touch this year,” said John K. Mathew, secretary of the residents welfare association. In Methodist colony it is a boat-shaped Christmas stage that welcomes you. “From the design to the toppings we decided the make of the tree,” students of the Culinary Academy in Uma Nagar said. In Alwal, a residents welfare association has an eight-foot tree.
Meanwhile, most prominent churches in the city, including St. Mary’s Church, Secunderabad, St. John’s Church, St. George’s Church, Abids, and CSI Garrison Wesley’s Church all have completed their carol services. In St. John’s and St. Mary’s there will be a midnight Christmas wake to commemorate the birth of Christ. “The Christian community splurges not just on itself but also on others. This is also the time that a good amount of money is shared with the less fortunate in our society,” said Christine Lazarus, ex-MLA and a member of the Anglo-Indian Community in the city.
While the State government had release Rs.15 crore for Christmas celebrations, aid sponsored by the Minorities Welfare department has already reached most districts in Telangana, officials said.
Apart from good wishes, celebrations and sharing, Christmas, which is considered a day of new beginning and hope for believers, will also witness some prayer services which are rendered in song including that of Rock Church and Methodist Church, Mettuguda.
