Christmas was celebrated in the district on Thursday with joy. The celebrations had begun in various churches from Wednesday evening with believers gathering and praying in church till midnight. They exchanged wishes and flowers.
Priests led the midnight mass prayers at the Sacred Heart Church on Udgir road.
On Thursday morning, devotees gathered in large numbers to participate in the mass prayers in various churches.
Celebrations at the St. Paul Methodist church were special as it was also the Golden jubilee celebration of the building. The building has been refurbished for the event. Church committee secretary, Jaikar Rathnappa and others distributed sweets and presents to the staff of the church and children. Expatriates from around the world have come home for the festival, Mr. Jaikar said.
St. Joseph Church on Hyderabad road also witnessed celebrations throughout the night on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Several hundred people gathered to pray and sing carols. They exchanged flowers and gifts and distributed sweets among friends and neighbours.
Similar celebrations were held at the Don Bosco Society and the Carmel Vocational Training Centre in Bidar and in churches in Aurad, Bhalki, Humnabad, Basava Kalyan, Chitaguppa, Hulsoor, Anadur, Kamathana and other towns and villages.
A group of young people from Mangalpet in the old city installed a 34-feet tall Christmas tree made of iron roads and sticks near the Thatha Seimonds circle. They decorated it with flowers, lamps and gift boxes. The team of Edwin Lawrence, Ebenzer, Kiran, Pradeep, Joshua and others built the tree within a week, they said. “As far as we know, it is the tallest Christmas tree in the state,” said Edwin.
