X’mas Day celebrated across country

Christmas Day, commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ, was celebrated on Thursday with due religious fervour and festivity in the country, as well as elsewhere in the world, reports BSS.

Special prayers were offered at churches, which were illuminated for the occasion, while makeshift Christmas trees were set up at homes, churches and mission centres across the country to mark the Christmas Day, the largest religious festival of the Christian community.

Elderly people of the community, attired with the outfit of Santa Claus, usually had fun with children and distribute gifts among kids as part of a universal Christian practice.

In Tangail, the Christmas Day was celebrated in the district, particularly in Madhupur region, with great enthusiasm and various events.

The main celebration took place at the Jalchhatra Christ Dharmapalli Church in Madhupur this morning. At a special programme, Church President Pastor Nirjan Sim Song highlighted the life and humanitarian ideals of Jesus Christ. He called upon the devotees to practice self-purification and wished everyone a happy and peaceful life in the coming year.

Addressing the gathering, local religious leader Samnom Nakret urged the Christian community to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ by living with mutual love, compassion and peaceful coexistence. After the congregational prayers, devotees performed hymns and congregational music in praise of Jesus.

On the occasion of Christmas, churches, shrines and Christian households across the area were decorated with colourful lights and ornaments. Traditional Pitha festivals were also organised in several villages, including Mominpur, Jalchhatra, Idilpur, Pirgachha, Sainamari and Dharati in Madhupur.

Earlier on Wednesday night, Christmas Day celebrations began with cake- cutting ceremonies at various places of worship, including Jalchhatra Christ Deh Dharmapalli in the Madhupur Garh area and Pirgachha Saint Paul Dharmapalli in Uttar Mominpur. Following the ceremonies, men, women, children and teenagers visited houses in groups, performing kirtan as part of the festive celebrations.

The peaceful and joyous observance of Christmas reflected the spirit of harmony and devotion among the Christian community in the region.

In Sunamganj, Christmas, the principal religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated in a festive and peaceful atmosphere across the district on Wednesday and Thursday.

The festival was observed in at least 25 churches in the district town and its surrounding upazilas.

Churches were decorated and special arrangements were made to mark the occasion. Law enforcement agencies took additional security measures to ensure smooth and safe celebrations.

Dennis Chakraborty, general secretary of the Sunamganj Press and Broadcasting Charge, said the Christmas celebrations began at midnight on December 24. He added that December 25 was marked with day-long prayer sessions, Bible readings, cake cutting, and kirtan in churches across the district.