Christmas zeal, fervour spreads in northeast Indian states

Dec 26, 2013: Christmas was celebrated Wednesday in churches and homes across northeast India with special prayers and worship programmes. Over 5.3 million Christians live in Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur while there are a considerable number of Christians in the other northeastern states as well.

The celebrations began Tuesday midnight with church services and fellowships where the congregation sang Christmas songs and hymns, and both western and local songs composed by spiritualists.

In Aizawl, police officials said the Christmas celebrations were peaceful. "Heavy security arrangements have been made in the capital city (Aizawl) and other parts of the state (bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh) to hold the festivities peacefully," senior police official L.R. Dingliana Sailo told reporters. The traditional festive spirit was everywhere as Aizawl city and other towns of the mountainous Mizoram wore festive looks with decoration and lights all over.

The festive spirit spread wide in Nagaland as the Christmas celebrations started at the stroke of midnight when church bells rang out signalling the birth of Jesus Christ. Churches, private and government buildings, markets and homes have been decked up and illuminated in Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung towns and various other small places.

Governors and chief ministers of the northeastern states have wished the people on the occasion. Churches in Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya play a very active role in the life and culture of the northeastern states.

(Source: UCAN)