Christmas was celebrated with much fervour in the two districts.
Members of the Christian community, dressed in their best, gathered at the churches, that had been tastefully decorated for the occasion, to offer prayers.
At all the Methodist churches in the district — on Bangalore Road, Chikkaballapur Road and Bethamangala Road — special prayers were organised from 8 am.
At the Bharatiya Methodist Church in the city, a dance ballet on the birth of Christ and a beautifully decorated crib attracted the devotees.
The aroma of plum cake and jingles played in homes and churches made the atmosphere all the more special. Members of Christian community invited their friends and treated them with festive delicacies.
In Chikkaballapur
At the CSI Christ Church, the special prayers were led by Shailashree Suresh. Hundereds of devotees and many dignitaries from the community attended the prayer service. Since the St Francis Xaviour Church is still under construction, arrangements were made at a building next to it, to enable devotees to offer prayers.
Chikkaballapur and Christianity share a bond that is nearly three centuries old. Chikkaballapur saw the advent of Christianity in 1713, when it was part of the then Kurnool state.
The Christians gelled well with the local residents and studied the local culture. This has been documented in the State Gazzetteer.