Patna soaks in Christmas spirit

PATNA: With Christmas just a day away, preparations are in full swing across the city. From illuminating houses to making festive delicacies, people are busy giving final touches to their preparations. Students of various educational institutions are also busy singing carols and welcoming Santa Claus on their campuses.
The local markets are loaded with varieties of cakes including plum, red velvet and blueberry.Non-alcoholic drinks are in high demand.
A bakery shop owner on Fraser Road, Mukul Agarwal, said there is a high demand for plum cakes this year as well. “The demand increases on the Christmas eve as more than 200 people buy cakes and pastries,” he said.
Some people have already started preparing Christmas delicacies like cakes, cookies, pies and chicken dishes.
Boring Road resident Melwin Thomas, who attends around 100 people at her house every year during the festival, said she usually starts the preparations a night before Christmas.
John Johanon of the same locality believes that Christmas brings happiness. “We have already decorated our house. Plum cake and apple pie will be baked by Tuesday evening,” he said.
People who live away from their families have started coming to their homes. “I have been living away from my family from past 15 years, but make it sure that I celebrate Christmas with them every year,” said Atul Symon, a resident of Fairfield Colony.
Meanwhile, St Michael’s Primary School, St Xavier’s College of Management and Technology and Magadh Mahila College organised pre-Christmas celebrations on Monday.
St Michael campus was abuzz with carols like ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Silent Night’, ‘Mary, Did You Know’ and ‘We Three Kings’. A musical play —‘Coming of Jesus’ — displaying Jesus’ birth at a stable received great applause from the audience. It was followed by a joyful dance by the students of classes I to V.
St Michael’s High School principal Fr Armstrong Edison said, “Christmas is not only about exchanging gifts and having parties but welcoming God in our hearts and being good to each other as well.”
Headmistress Vishakha Sinha and other teaching and non-teaching staff were also present on the occasion.
St Xavier’s College of Management and Technology’s rector Fr Joseph Thadavanal SJ, principal Fr T Nishaant SJ and vice-principal Fr Martin Poras started the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
It was followed by carols and nativity scenes, depicting the birth of Jesus Christ, by Uddeshya and team.
College rector described Christmas as a love story. “The festival shows that God loves everyone irrespective of the faiths they follow,” he said.
The programme concluded with a Christmas dance that spread the message of joy, peace and giving. While Santwana and Aryan anchored the function, Vagisha proposed the vote of thanks.
Students of Magadh Mahila College participated in a series of competitions at ‘Winter Carnival Fest’ organised on its premises.
Ankita Kumari of Samridhi House won Santa making competition, while Urvashi Kashyap of Jagriti House got best Xmas tree decoration prize.
More than 30 stalls were put up by the students to sell decorative items. They sang carols and gorged on several food stalls. The programme ended with Santa Claus’ arrival, who distributed sweets among the kids.