TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Christmas festivities, marking the birth of Jesus, commenced with resonant rendition of carols at 11 pm Tuesday at major churches in Goa, leading to the midnight Eucharistic celebrations, to mark the first yuletide morn.
Christmas, is one of the most important festivals for Christians around the world, but in Goa people from all communities partake of the festivities which also coincides with the peak tourism season.
Churches in the capital as well as other parts of the State were overflowing with devotees participating in the solemnity in their finery.
Christian homes sported variously crafted stars, traditional lampios and brightly lit and colourfully bedecked Christmas trees. Creatively decorated life size cribs ~ both inside and outside houses glowing amidst the chill of the Christmas night ~ were seen across the State.
The main celebrants at various churches delivered multiple nuanced messages interpreting the significance and circumstances of Jesus’ birth and various messages which people can draw from this event which altered the course of humanity over two thousand years ago.
After midnight mass people greeted each other, partied and danced late into the morning. Family get together and exchange of gifts will mark the traditional manner of celebration on Christmas Day.
The Yuletide celebrations will continue with Boxing Day on December 26 till the year end festivities and ushering in of the New Year 2014, for which many overseas Goans would have come home.
Meanwhile, Goa police have set in motion a comprehensive security arrangement for Christmas and New Year parties while it is also making security arrangements for Christmas religious services being held in churches across the State on Christmas-eve and thereafter.
Apart from safeguarding churches, a senior officer said, the police are also patrolling other areas to thwart possible untoward acts. Besides the Goa police personnel, reserved police force including IRB and GRP have also been roped-in to ensure foolproof security throughout the State.
The Department has ruled out any terror threats even as Indian Mujahideen’s co-founder Yasin Bhatkal had claimed that IM operatives, especially Tehsin Akhtar alias Monu would target foreign tourists in Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa and other states.
