Christmas preparations in full swing in Meghalaya

Shillong, Dec 21 (UNI) Christmas preparations in Meghalaya have already started and reached a peak even as children brave the chill winter and are singing carols along with their beloved Santa Claus.

The bedecked city of Shillong resembled a fairyland with spectacular illumination of lights and festoons with red lights atop the houses to symbolise the descent of Lord Jesus to the Earth.

Christmas trees and wreaths adorned almost every household. All the Churches, missionary schools and institutions were also decorated with colourful buntings and lights.

Tourists from other states of the country were flocking to the city to participate in the celebrations.

All communities, irrespective of religious faith, joined their Christian brethren in this predominantly Christian state to celebrate Christmas enthusiastically.

The Central Puja Committee (CPC), the apex Hindu body in the state, also decided to participate in the Christmas celebrations.

''We too will celebrate Christmas to mark the arrival of the messenger of peace and love,'' CPC general secretary J L Das said.

''It's awesome to see children from different religious backgrounds chanting Christmas hymns,'' Ruchika Sheth, a travel writer from Maharashtra, said.

Meanwhile, Christmas carols could already be heard across Meghalaya since the past one week, braving the chilled winter. All the young and old joined Santa Claus in Christmas carols.

All the hotels and tourist lodges in the city had started arranging parties and other activities.

''This year, we decided to celebrate Christmas in Shillong as the city extended its hospitality and goodwill to people from all over the world and therefore, we felt that this is the best place to celebrate Christmas,'' Adrian Black, a tourist from England, who arrived here with his wife Julia, said.

Special Christmas cakes were being prepared in almost every household and bakeries to add embellishments to the festival.

UNI