Christmas celebrated amid much enthusiasm

The holy Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated Sunday in Bangladesh, as well as elsewhere in the world, amid festivity and much enthusiasm commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ.

Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ on the day, which is a public holiday in Bangladesh and most other countries.

On the occasion, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the members of the Christian community.

The Christian community celebrated the festival with huge enthusiasm and religious fervour by holding special prayers, illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions.

The ringing of church bells at midnight marked the advent of the day when the followers of the faith welcomed it with carols assembling in churches and other such venues.

Churches and adjoining areas were decked out with colourful lights, while Christmas trees were illuminated and decorated with a star on top.

Elderly people of the community attired in the outfit of Santa Claus celebrated with children and distributed gifts as part of universal Christian practice.

Security was beefed up at different strategic points in the capital and many other places of the country to ensure a peaceful celebration of the festival.

Special prayers were offered at churches, including St Mary’s Cathedral at Kakrail, Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon, and St Christina’s Catholic Church at Asad Avenue in Dhaka seeking divine blessings for the welfare, peace and prosperity of the country, its people and humanity.