Christmas was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in various parts of Karimnagar district on Thursday.
Special prayers were held at CSI Wesley church in Karimnagar town wherein pastor R. Paul Komal conducted the mass. Local legislator Gangula Kamalakar also attended the prayers at the Christian colony church in the town and greeted people.
All churches were illuminated for the festival. Nizamabad Special Correspondent adds: Christmas was celebrated across the district on Thursday. Celebrations began with the midnight service. Churches were decorated beautifully and illuminated with serial lighting.
A large number of Christians congregated at the CSI Church premises and offered prayers. Elected representatives including Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, MLA Bigala Ganesh Gupta, Mayor Akula Sujatha and Telangana Mahila Congress president Akula Lalitha were among those who attended the celebrations.
Mr. Srinivas Reddy cut a huge cake on the occasion. Nizamabad (rural) MLA Bajireddy Govardhan and the Balkonda MLA V. Prasanth Reddy also participated in the celebrations in their constituencies. Special programmes were conducted at the Church on the premises of the Nirmala Hrudaya High School since early morning.
Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: Christmas was celebrated with gaiety across the district. The first aradhana commenced at the Medak Church at 5 a.m. and the second aradhana was held at 10 a.m. A procession was also taken out.
Local legislator and Deputy Speaker M. Padma Devender Reddy along with Parliament member Rapolu Andna Bhaskar participated in the prayers.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Padma said that this was one of the biggest Churches in South Asia and the State government was committed to providing better facilities. “We will promote the Medak church as a pilgrim spot. We are lucky to have this church here,” she said.
A number of devotees who could not visit the church in the morning chose to come late in the evening as well.
At the Church of South India (CSI) located in the district headquarters, prayers commenced in the morning. Local legislator Chinta Prabhakar and MP K. Prabhakar Reddy participated in the celebrations and offered prayers. At Zaheerabad, MLA J. Geeta Reddy and MP B.B. Patil took part in the prayers.
Warangal Special Correspondent adds: Churches across the district were beautifully decorated and hundreds of Christians thronged them to offer special prayers.
The young and old, in their best attire, made a beeline for the churches to pray and listen to sermons. The Fathima Cathedral at Kazipet, Ephipany Church at Dornakal and the Centenary Baptist Church at Hanamkonda organised the celebrations on a grand scale on Wednesday at midnight.
Political leaders including Deputy Chief Minister T. Rajaiah and several others joined the Christians in their prayers and greeted them on the occasion.
