Christmas celebrations back in Hyderabad after two years
The Hindu
Churches were illuminated and grandly decorated while carol singing, Santa distributing gifts and bursting of firecrackers made the celebrations more exciting.
The grandeur of Christmas celebrations was back after two years of lull due to the pandemic with devotees thronging churches since Saturday midnight for special prayers.
The pomp and gaiety associated with the celebrations were seen right from Saturday evening in several churches in the city as huge numbers attended the midnight mass and also the special prayers on Sunday morning.
Churches were illuminated and grandly decorated while carol singing, Santa distributing gifts and bursting of firecrackers made the celebrations more exciting.
Attired in their best, people exchanged greetings and gifts and cut cakes. They organised prayers for peace and highlighted the message of Jesus’ birth. Cultural programmes for senior citizens and children were also organised.
The biggest congregation was seen at the 200-year-old St. John’s Church and St Mary’s Basilica at Secunderabad. Celebrations were equally vibrant at St Mary’s Church, All Saints Church, Wesley Church, Holy Trinity Church, Baptist Church in Narayanguda, St. Joseph’s Cathedral at Gunfoundry, Millennium Methodist Church and St George’s Anglican Church at Abids.
Special celebrations were also held by the Anglo-Indian community at Lalaguda, unique given the history connected to the people.
Meanwhile, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy were among those who greeted the Christian community.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”