Season to be jolly: Twin cities gear up for Christmas

Special mass held at midnight, security beefed up in twin cities

RAWALPINDI: The garrison city is all set to celebrate Christmas today with Churches and houses festooned  in colourful lights and balloons.

Meanwhile, a special Christmas Peace Train departed from the Rawalpindi Railway Station on Saturday morning, steaming for Lahore.

The biggest Christmas congregation in the city is expected at the Roman Catholic Church located at Lal Kurti while members of the local Christian community are excited for the big day. “All is set for Christmas celebrations,” said Khurram Roshan, a Christian who lives at Dhoke Syedan.

“We have decorated our houses with colourful lights, flags, and balloons. Christmas trees are ready. Gifts have been purchased for children. Special food items will be prepared on the occasion,” he said.

Roshan added that Christmas celebrations would commence from Saturday evening. On Sunday, he said Christians would distribute dry fruits and cakes among each other and cut special cake. A special mass service would be held at midnight in churches across the city with special songs to welcome the  birth of Jesus, said Nasir Saleem, another member of the Christian community who lives near Lal Kurti.

He said that children would present different tableaus highlighting events before and after the birth of Jesus.

Christmas train

Carrying colorful models highlighting beliefs of different religions and history of Pakistan the special train had spent around 16 hours at the station after it arrived from Peshawar Two days ago. The train’s journey is expected to complete its journey in Karachi after traveling across the country over the next 15 days.

The train has been decorated with models of Santa Claus from different countries, Christmas trees, photos of significant religious leaders of all the religions in the country, models highlighting traditions and cultures of minorities in Pakistan, and sign boards narrating history of Pakistan since its establishment.

During its brief stopover  at the station, the platform had been kept open for the public to visit the train. The train left the garrison city as Christmas celebrations started in the city.

Security measures

Stringent security measures have been made in the twin cities for Christmas especially at churches. Regional Police Officer Wisal Fakhar, in a statement, said that they would set up three layers of security outside churches. Further, armed police personnel would stand alert on rooftops of the buildings adjacent to the churches while officials would also constantly patrol and search areas surrounding churches.

Parking near church buildings would also be prohibited. In Islamabad, over 900 policemen and FC personnel will be deployed around churches in Islamabad. Furthermore, as part of the stringent security arrangements, special checking would be conducted  outside churches.

SP Muhammad Ilyas said that jungle areas near the churches would be completely searched while Mobile Eagle, Falcon squads of the police along with police commandos would patrol these areas.

Officers in plain-clothes and well-equipped policemen will also be deputed near churches and public places.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2016.