It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Shillong

Shillong: “There’s something about Christmas time…that makes you wish it was Christmas every day,” the sound system in a city cab plays out the catchy number by Bryan Adams.It’s biting cold but festive hot in these undulating evergreen hills and with Christmas just over a week away, it’s jingle bells all the way.Christmas carols and pre-Christmas prayer services and celebrations featuring special numbers, skits and Gospel message besides prayers for the sick and bound and various other programmes are being organised in the city and elsewhere to herald the biggest event in this Christian-majority hill state.A pre-Christmas prayer service was recently organised at the Meghalaya legislative assembly by speaker Thomas A Sangma, which was attended by chief minister Conrad K Sangma, legislators and assembly staff. Special Christmas fairs are drawing enthusiasts and adding to the festive cheer all around.Commercial hubs in the capital city, especially Police Bazaar and Iewduh (Barabazaar) and elsewhere in the state are bustling with swelling crowds attracted by the festive wares from ‘pre-Christmas cakes’ to crackers, candles, cards and lights.Despite winter having set in and the wind chilly and biting, families are out shopping for Christmas late into the evenings. Police Bazar, the main commercial centre is all decked up to attract shoppers.“Christmas is our biggest time for business,” said the owner of a designer garment shop. Equally good is the turnover in smaller outlets. “However, with online shopping the order of the day, garment stores are not as busy as they used to be years back,” pointed out a sales-woman at a city clothes store.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword.