Hyderabad: Christmas Eve in the city was a vision in red as people donned their Santa Claus hats and the smell of freshly baked plum cakes wafted through the air, amid the hustle-bustle of people doing their last-minute shopping, buying clothes and gifts, and sweets.
Carollers reeled out popular numbers like ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, ‘Joy To The World’ and ‘The First Noel.’
Educational institutions also celebrated the day with much pomp, as witnessed at celebrations by over 20 institutions affiliated to the CSI Educational Institutions at a single event, with moderator commissary Dr K. Padma Rao helming the events at its headquarters.
A. Vimal Sukumar, treasurer of CSI churches, said, “Each institution performed one item.”
At Little Flower High School, Cardinal Poola Anthony undertook the cake-cutting, in the presence of Hyderabad police commissioner K. Sreenivasa Reddy, Charminar MLA Zulfiqar Ali and organiser Dr Ashish Chauhan.
School principal Bro. Shajan Anthony, who also received an award for his exemplary work from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy during the government’s celebrations, said: “The events that took place in the school involved people from different walks of lives. They narrated to students how to be better citizens in the society.”
The Centenary Methodist English Church held its Christmas Eve service, with contemporary celebrations a first here. Anusha Mondol and her team led the service with music and singing popular carols. The highlight of this service was switching off of lights during the rendition of ‘Silent Night’, as the congregation was given glow-in-the-dark wristbands.
New Life Assembly of God Church in Kompally made preparations for Christmas services from 8.30 am on Monday, where senior associate pastor Valson Varghese would be delivering the message.
Organiser Younus Samuel said, “The expectation is to host a congregation of more than 6,000 faithful, as this is the major festival for our community.”
Life Changing Revival Centre witnessed a Christmas Eve service led by Dr P.J. Stephan Paul. The Christmas Day service will be from 9 am to noon, at two different venues of GPS in Kompally and JVN Gardens in Lingampally.
St George's Church in Abids also held a Christmas Eve service, wherein the service witnessed Holy Communion and preparation for the coming Christ, the traditional service. Rev. Dr Solomon Raj said, “On the day of Christmas, the morning service starts at 8.30 am. The service will be conducted in Anglican order.”
St Thomas Tamil Cathedral in Secunderabad, established in 1852, is a popular church in the twin cities for Tamil families to congregate. Einstein Samuel, office-bearer of the church, said: “On the Christmas Day, the service starts at 4 am, which is called holy Eucharist service, for which more than a 1,000 will congregate, followed by services at 8 am and 10.30 am.”
Rev G. Thimothy, associate pastor of Millennium Methodist Church on SD Road, said they hosted many events for Christmas, with Sunday’s carolling a particular highlight. “The choir, which was more than 50, rendered carols in three languages. The church, as a gesture of Christmas, distributed gifts in many hostels and homes,” he said.
