City soaks in Xmas fervour

The birthday of Jesus Christ was comme­morated with special pray­e­r­s, family gatherings, cultural events, and fun activities in the City on Sunday.

The 107-year-old Hudson Memorial Church organised a special programme attended by the Commissioner of Police, B G Jyothiprakash Mirji. Around 4,000 devotees thronged the church as the event began around 8.30 am. Mirji said that Jesus Christ embodied love for all, including one’s adversaries.

A 40-member group regaled the audience with its rendition of the Nativity (the birth) of Jesus Christ.

Nagaraj, a member, said the Christmas festivities were one of the most important events at the church built in 1904 in memory of Rev Josiah Hudson. Hudson had purchased the land for Rs 3,500.

The faithfuls dispersed after the ceremony ended around 10.45 am. But that was just the beginning of a day full of festivities, fun and frolic, and what not. Those who stayed indoors decorated their houses with candles, Christmas trees, etc. Others visited relatives and greeted each other.

Sparkling streets

The streets were adorned with banners, lights and Christmas trees. While Catholic Christians lit candles to mark the spread of light, the Protestants found other ways of commemoration, Nagaraj said. An important part of the festivity, according to Nagaraj, was the Kannada song about the birth of Jesus.

“Bethlehem ondu nagara, sundara nagara / Huttida Yesu aa sundara nagaradalli,” (Bethlehem is a city, a beautiful one, where the Christ was born) was one of the most-played songs. Several people, including non-Christians, wore Santa caps. Schools though were closed, students had started the celebrations a week earlier.

The Canadian International School (CIS) was soaked in splendour, joy and Christmas spirit on Friday itself, with parents and staff taking part in the Christmas drive to collect food, stationery and raise funds for charity.

Students from 37 nationalities commemorated Jesus’s birth in traditional fervour.
The classrooms were decorated with Christmas festoons, hand-made cards, snowflakes, hollies, Christmas Trees and Santa distributed gifts and candies to the children.