RAWALPINDI:
Like the rest of the country, the Christian community in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad celebrated the annual Christmas festival with religious fervour and devotion.
After attending special prayers at churches, Christian families thronged at least 45 recreational spots including parks and lakes. A good number of Christian families also went to Murree to enjoy the snowfall.
Christmas celebrations were held under tight security in the churches of the two cities, in which religious songs were performed to pay homage to Mary and the Prophet Jesus, along with special prayers.
Pastors and priests shed light on the history of Christmas and gave a message that they had to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ with a sincere heart. Their sermons portrayed a message of peace, security, brotherhood, and sharing in each other’s pain and sufferings.
On this occasion, songs for peace and special prayers were also offered for the development, prosperity and security of Pakistan. A large number of children, women, elders and youth participated in the special worship service in the churches led by the priests.
All the churches including the oldest Catholic Church established at Holy Family Hospital were beautifully decorated. Decorations were done with flags, electric lamps and models of Santa Clauses.
After finishing religious services, Christian families cut Christmas cakes and exchanged sweets and chocolates. Special Christmas cakes were prepared in bakeries. The sale of Christmas cakes and sweets continued from the night of December 24 to the evening of December 25.
On Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Christian families shopped late into the night. In the afternoon on Christmas Day, Christian children and families went to places of entertainment.
In celebration of Christmas, parks’ managements organised special swings, food stalls, aerial rider swings, mono-trains, horse rides, dodging cars, ghost bungalows, new indoor computerised games and battery cars for kids.
This time, Christian families missed the fun at Allama Iqbal Park due to ongoing cricket matches and the sealing of the park for two weeks. The park will be opened to the public today (Thursday).
A large number of Christian families visited Ayub Park, Joy Land, Patriata, Ladies Park, Shehbaz Sharif Park, Shakar Parian, Monument, Jasmine Garden and Daman-e-Koh where kids showed interest in swings and horse riding. The visitors enjoyed different meals and refreshments.
Side-by-side enjoyments, Christian families complained about increased prices of food and drink and tickets for swings, aerial riders and dodging cars.
Visitor Victor Masih said that a plate of dahi bhale and chana chaat was sold for Rs250, potato chips for Rs100, a small bottle of cold drink for Rs100 and the “substandard” soup was sold for Rs250 a cup.
Daniel, a child, said that the dodging car and boating tickets continued to be charged at Rs600 per person, adding no swing had a ticket less than Rs200 per person.
Another visitor, Iqbal Joseph said that the parking fee for cars and motorcycles was also increased, adding swings and amusements were plentiful, but ticket rates were too high. According to him, poor Christian children were deprived of electric swings as they had no other option except to enjoy free traditional iron swings in the broken corners of parks.
