Kashmir News Bureau
Srinagar, Dec 25 (KNB): The Christmas, birthday of Jesus Christ, was on Monday celebrated across the Kashmir Valley with religious zest and gaiety despite bone chilling cold. The fascinating part was that after 50 years the Christmas church bells were rung in Holy Family Church Srinagar as it was damaged in 1967 in a fire incident. The celebrations began with midnight mass prayers in Churches in summer capital, Srinagar, which recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 4. The church was decorated with colourful buntings and balloons and wore a festive look.
It is worth mentioning that the population of Christians in Jammu and Kashmir has increased by 75 percent from 2001 to 2011, the Census data had revealed. Of these, the data had stated, 21523 are males while remaining 14108 females.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti had felicitated people of the State on the occasion of Christmas. In her message, the Chief Minister expressed the hope that the holy occasion would be an omen of communal harmony, love for humanity and compassion for all across the world.
Most colorful Christmas celebrations were witnessed at Holy Family Catholic Church, a Roman Catholic Church located at Maulana Azad Road, Srinagar. The prayers were held at the Holy Family Catholic Church and All Saints’ Church in Srinagar, Saint Joseph’s Church in Baramulla district—the oldest Catholic Church in Jammu and Kashmir. An impressive number of worshipers attended the Christmas prayers.
The fascinating part was that after 50 years the Christmas church bells were rung in Holy Family Church Srinagar as it was damaged in 1967 in a fire incident. Last year the celebrations of Christmas were kept low key in wake of the unprecedented unrest that had hit Kashmir post killing of Militant Commander Burhan Wani.
The devotes in all the churches lauded the communal brotherhood of Kashmir and prayed for peace and prosperity in Kashmir. (KNB)