Churches in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are tastefully decorated and brightly lit for the occasion.
Updated – 12:19 PM, Sunday – 12/25/22
Source: IANS.
Hyderabad: After two years of low-key celebrations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Christmas was celebrated with as much pomp and merriment as ever on Sunday in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Many attended midnight Mass and special prayers on Sunday morning.
Special prayers in the church after midnight, carols at the workplace and Secret Santa and the explosion of firecrackers are the highlights of the festivities.
Churches in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are tastefully decorated and brightly lit for the occasion. Devotees have been seen pouring into churches since Saturday night.
Churches in other towns in Telangana and neighboring Andhra Pradesh also witnessed special prayers.
The festivities begin with midnight masses in many churches in Secunderabad, where there are quite a few Christians.
People exchange Christmas greetings and gifts with each other in a festive atmosphere. The Church organizes different cultural programs for senior citizens, couples, teenagers and children.
Large congregations were seen at SCI Wesleyan Church and the 200-year-old St. John’s Church in Secunderabad. The faithful also attended Mass at St. Mary’s, All Saints, Wesleyan, Holy Trinity and Millennium Methodist churches. Priests prayed for peace and emphasized the message of the birth of Jesus.
The Anglo-Indian community of Lalaguda, Secunderabad celebrates Christmas with enthusiasm and tradition. In Little England, as Lalaguda is known, the community celebrates the festival in its own unique way.
Cake making and wine making at home are an integral part of community celebrations.
Men, women and children dress up in costumes and attend midnight services in specially decorated churches.
As part of the celebration, Christian families cut the cake and greet each other.
The three-day celebration also kicked off at the historic Church of South India (CSI) in Medak, about 100 kilometers from Hyderabad.
Medak Church is the second largest cathedral in Asia and was built between 1914 and 1924. It was built of Gothic-style granite and has biblical stories painted on its stained-glass windows. The historic church is illuminated on this occasion.
Celebrations are also held in Khammam, Adilabad and other towns in Telangana. In Andhra Pradesh, celebrations are held in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Ongole, Kadapa, Bheemavaram and other towns.
Christmas celebrations are also held in Amaravati, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. In Prakasam district, priests held a special prayer at the century-old Chirala St Louis Marks Lutheran Church.
Telangana Governor Tamilsay Sandara Rajan, Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabsan Harichandan and Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy sent greetings to the people.
In her address, the Governor of Telangana stated that Christmas is a joyful time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and cherish his ideals.
“His life was a symbol of love, forgiveness, truth, compassion, brotherhood and sacrifice. I hope this Christmas will bring boundless joy, love, peace and prosperity to all. In the true spirit of Christmas, let us resolve Make the world more prosperous, healthy, peaceful and compassionate,” she said.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said the teachings of Jesus Christ spread the values of peace, compassion, tolerance and love to the world, contributing to universal human brotherhood.
CM KCR stated that, on the one hand, the technological field is developing rapidly, and on the other hand, human values are dying. “At this moment, the teaching of Christ is relevant. It is essential to practice the great virtue of forgiving our enemies and showing love, compassion and patience towards our fellow human beings,” he said.
