Bhubaneswar: Odisha celebrates Christmas with pomp and gaiety every year. The celebrations include going to church with family and friends, attending mass, singing carols and enjoying Christmas delicacies.
Renowned international sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik amazed with a 3D Santa Claus this year and following the tradition miniature artist, L. Eshwar Rao has created a miniature church in a bottle, showing his finesse with style.
From Kalahandi district, the Catholic Church of Bhawanipatna wore a colourful look with lights, candles, Christmas trees, bells and carols were sung to celebrate the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Various cultural programmes are also being held.
The district of Khurda is known for its gala Christmas celebrations. The Anglo-Indian community here takes part in the festivities that continue from December 23-31 and their lineage goes back to over 150 years. For Christmas, the kids get together and decorate the Christmas tree topped with a huge guiding star. The week-long festivities include kids’ special functions, Christmas dance and bonfire ahead of New Year.
The Christian community of Ganjam thronged the well-decorated Churches late last night to welcome baby Jesus. They lighted candles and sang carols in praise of the Lord with motto of ‘Christmas Heart, A Giving Heart’. The babe in the barn was a special attraction at the Berhampur Catholic Church.
The silver city of Cuttack saw ardent followers of Christ making a beeline to the church here to celebrate the birth of son of the God, Jesus Christ. While the celebrations started from last night itself, people were back at the church today to attend mass, sing carols and distribute cake among themselves. Here too the barn was decorated with guiding angel at top, with Mary and Joseph, the wise men, a shepherd boy, a donkey and a sheep in celebration of the beauty and wonder of birth of baby Christ.