Bhubaneswar: Christmas celebrations in the city have begun with churches holding services at Monday midnight.
Ahead of the big day, the St Vincent Pro Cathedral Church at Satya Nagar and the Church of Christ (Union Church) at Sachivalaya Marg are ready for celebrating Christmas.
There will be a midnight mass Monday at the St Vincent Pro Cathedral. Bible reading sessions, carol singing and prayers were held both in English and Odia on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve members of the church practice a special dance that will be presented on the big day.
Archbishop John Barwa of St Vincent Pro Cathedral said Monday midnight the church will remember the event that happened 2,000 years ago and how peace and joy came to mankind.
The Archbishop said he would celebrate Holy Mass Monday midnight. After prayers, in the morning, worshippers will get a chance to touch the feet of the statue of Infant Jesus.
He said God became a human being in the person of Christ to be with us and to give us his message of peace. Men must understand the cause for which Christ came and must work towards it, the Archbishop added.
A large Christmas tree has been put up on the church’s premises and gifts would be given to kids on Christmas Day. Cakes and milk will also be distributed to worshippers after prayers.
At the Church of Christ (Union Church) at Sachivalaya Marg the service in English will be held at 10 am Tuesday followed by one in Odia at 3.30 pm. Another service will be held at 6 pm the same day and Fr Moses will address worshippers, said church Secretary Paresh Das.
Meanwhile, Artist L. Eshwar Rao prepared a miniature Santa Claus to celebrate Christmas. Many people have started sharing Christmas greetings on social media.