Christmas celebrations in Dinajpur

Fun and frolic marked Christmas celebrations in the district. Christmas trees and balloons were in evidence at churches and homes in the district town and all 13 upazila headquarters. Candles and Christmas carols added to the spirit of the Yuletide. Churches were beautifully decorated and people began making a beeline for them from Christmas Eve.
The Dinajpur Missionary Church was crowded with impeccably turned out devotees who came to offer special prayers. The pastor, who described Jesus Christ as an apostle of peace, rendered select chapters from the Holy Bible. He called upon the members of the Christian community to coexist with camaraderie and brotherhood to spread peace, tolerance and compassion for fellow human beings.
After the sermon the congregation sang traditional and new carols in Bangla.
When this correspondent visited various areas of the town, he found gaily decorated houses, terraces, gardens and compound walls. Christmas trees, naturally, found their place in every home and garden.
Dining tables at every Christian household remained flooded with cakes, sweets and other dishes on Christmas day.
Numerous popular restaurants had made elaborate arrangements to serve sumptuous meals, sweets, cakes and dips with music and dance as accompaniments.