Festive spirit and a spirit of yuletide pervaded the air as midnight masses, resonance of carols and merriment ushered in Christmas across tribal-dominated Kandhamal, including the district headquarter town of Phulbani.
The faithfuls thronged churches decorated with lights for the midnight service to celebrate the occasion.
"Festive atmosphere prevailed all over Kandhamal as all communities had resolved for a peaceful celebration of Christmas," a senior district official said.
In order to maintain law and order in vulnerable places in the district comprising sizeable Christian population, armed policemen were deployed at villages as well as select churches from December 22 to ward off any threat, DSP, Phulbani, Gupta Prasad Behera said.
Massive patrolling, checking of vehicles and frisking of the suspected persons were being carried out at entry points into the district since December 22.
Flag marches by armed police were being carried out to instill confidence among the people ahead of the festivities at different places including Phulbani, Baliguda, G Udayagiri, Tikabali, Raikia and Tumudibandha areas.
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Kandhamal had grabbed headlines due to widespread violence in 2008 in the aftermath of the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others at his ashram during Janmasthami celebrations on August 23 that year in which at least 40 people died.
Earlier, Saraswati was also attacked in 2007 leading to violence in certain areas.
A section of a tribal outfit, which had threatened some protest action for two days against the killing of one of its members Khageswar Mallick at Barakhama on December 25, 2007 during ethnic-religious riots, also dropped its plan ensuring peaceful celebrations.