The communally sensitive Kandhamal district was among the many places in Odisha which witnessed a peaceful celebration of Christmas with people belonging to all the religion joining hands to observe birth day of Jesus Christ.
The Christmas celebration was observed in Kandhamal amidst tight security with more than one hundred security personnel standing guard in front of important churches and sensitive pockets in the district, which witnessed a large scale riot in 2007 and 2008.
As many as 40 platoons including CRPF personnel were pressed into duty in Kandhamal in view of the bandh call given by Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samiti (KSSS), an apex body of Kandhamal tribals.
The KSSS withdrew its proposed bandh last night after a three-hour long discussion with the senior government officials at Phulbani, the district headquarter of Kandhamal district.
It was not Christians alone but people from other religions too thronged the beautiful decorated Churches in large numbers on the occasion of Christmas in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other towns in the state.
Churches and its adjoining places in major cities were abuzz with activities for last two days and it culminated with mass prayers, special services and merrymaking after the midnight prayer on Tuesday.
According to reports reaching here, the day was celebrated across the state with pomp and gaiety as people observed it as 'Bada Deena'. Being a holiday, a large number of people preferred to go on a picnic and all picnic spots and parks of the city witnessed heavy gatherings.
Both Roman Catholic and Protestants celebrated the festival with religious fervour visiting the impeccably decorated Churches. Police sources said the festivals went off without any untoward incident reported from anywhere in the state.
Although carol singing in Churches had begun about a week ago on the eve of Christmas, celebrations began with midnight prayers on Tuesday night marking the birth of Lord Jesus. Mass prayers and special services were held in most of the Churches on Wednesday morning.
