Sangam city decked up for Christmas festivities
PRAYAGRAJ : With bright lights hanging from high parapets and columns of different churches and other buildings, Sangam city is now decked up for Christmas celebrations. Markets of the city too are witnessing brisk business till late evenings as locals are busy making their ‘last-minute’ shopping for Christmas tree toppings and other decorative items at different stalls that have come up at various busy crossings of the city.
Be it the footpath of Civil Lines or the main market of Katra, Chowk and that of several localities, several shops have mushroomed this week and are offering a variety of decorative items. But what await believers on Christmas eve are the serene and solemn midnight services conducted by various churches in the city. Decorative items along with designer cakes are turning to be the key attractions for visitors thronging the shops set up in Chowk and Civil Lines markets.
From different sizes of bells to decorative laces, snowflakes, decorative toffees and shining balls, stars of different sizes are all there for festival revellers. Besides, Santa dresses and caps too are proving to be an instant hit in the market. Interestingly, there is no religion divide to be seen anywhere when it comes to celebrating the festival.
More than the people from Christian community, youths of non-Christian families are also seen purchasing items for decorating their “Christmas Tree” and celebrating the festival. At the same time, many of those who are selling these items are Muslims.
Toys and greeting cards are also among the most soughtafter items among people of different ages visiting the markets for Christmas shopping. Both branded and non-branded greeting cards and gift items are selling like hot cakes.
Though the Christmas Mass would be held under strict norms in nearly two dozen city churches, bakeries in Sangam city have been witnessing a heavy rush for the past couple of weeks. Aslam of “Bushy Bakery” said all norms were followed like mask and sanitisers. Similarly, Mohd Saqib of “Irani Bakery” also confirmed strict compliance of norms for bakery workers as well as the customers visiting the bakery. Shop owners selling decorative items in Chowk, Katra and Civil Lines areas of city witnessed a brisk sale. Akhtar Hussain, who sells Christmas decoration items every year in Chowk area, said brisk sale just like previous years was witnessed this time also from December 20 onwards.