By Our Reporter
Shillong: The State is all decked up to celebrate the X-mas with Shillong already wearing a festive look.
On the eve of Christmas, thousands of people were seen crowding different markets for last minute shopping for clothes, cakes and pastries and decorative items to light up their Christmas trees.
There was jubilation around the city with children irrespective of caste and religion singing Christmas carols.
The bedecked city of Shillong resembled a fairyland with spectacular illumination of lights and festoons with red lights atop the houses to symbolise the descent of Lord Jesus to the Earth.
Christmas trees and wreaths adorned almost every household. All the Churches, missionary schools and institutions were also decorated with colourful buntings and lights.
Tourists from other states of the country were flocking to the city to participate in the celebrations.
All communities, irrespective of religious faith, joined their Christian brethren in this predominantly Christian state to celebrate Christmas enthusiastically.
For nearly a month the clothes and shoe shops in downtown Shillong have been doing brisk business.
Despite having several salespersons, many customers were left unattended. Many feel that with every passing year Christmas is turning more and more commercial and less spiritual and meaningful.
The whole of last week Khyndailad was choc-a-bloc even at 9 pm. Shops were still open and the crowd bustling. People were seen waiting to get a cab or a bus but to no avail. The rotary area was crowded with a sea of humanity. The scene has been similar every evening but the crowd peaked on 23rd and 24th. . It appeared as if every family was headed towards Khyndailad
While churches have recorded good attendance for the Christmas preparatory services, the Novena which started on December 16, and carol singing is in full swing people seem to give more importance to the externalities, said a priest who conducts regular church services.
Bus loads of carollers comprising mainly children and young people were seen going around the city and as fare as Laitkor peak. Christmas eve saw crackers bursting in unison while revellers brave the cold to wish each other a “Merry Christmas.”
Midnight Christmas services had a full attendance with believers turning out to bear witness to their faith on the most important occasion of the year- the birth of Lord Jesus Christ.
Several commercial buildings are decorated with coloured lights giving a feeling of warmth in an otherwise cold winter of December.
Bakeries are selling their Christmas cakes literally like hot cakes. On 23rd evening people literally queued outside Laitumkhrah’s hottest bakery – Little Chef for their share of Christmas cake.
Artistically lit paper stars adorn rooftops and banners featuring Christmas and New Year wishes are beginning to flutter in various localities of the city spreading the message of peace and love.
Like in the previous years, this time too cassettes and CDs, featuring captivating Christmas numbers are also flooding the market.
Meanwhile, the Central Puja Committee (CPC) has decided to participate in the Christmas celebrations. ”We too will celebrate Christmas to mark the arrival of the messenger of peace and love,” CPC general secretary J L Das said.
”It’s awesome to see children from different religious backgrounds chanting Christmas hymns and we wish this happened in other parts of the country too,” Gangesh Jha, a tourist from Bihar, said.
All the hotels and tourist lodges in the city had started arranging parties and other activities.
”This year, we decided to celebrate Christmas in Shillong as the city extended its hospitality and goodwill to people from all over the world and therefore, we felt that this is the best place to celebrate Christmas,” Ricardo, a tourist from Portugal, said.
Special Christmas cakes were being prepared in almost every household and bakeries to add embellishments to the festival. (With inputs from UNI)