As the Steel City finally warms up to the spirit of Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ, the city has taken several steps to ensure peaceful celebrations tomorrow. City traffic police have enforced prohibition on entry of heavy vehicles to the city from 6 am till 11 pm in view of the Yuletide celebrations.
Jamshedpur city SP Chandan Jha said that all the police stations have been asked to ensure special vigil and patrolling near churches apart from deployment during church services. The local police station officers-in-charge have been asked to coordinate with churches falling under their jurisdiction about timing of the church service.
Moreover, around 300 police jawans would be pressed into service near different churches spread across the city. Policemen in plain clothes have also been deployed.
Some of the churches which will be witnessing large crowd during early morning (from 8 am) Christmas service include Northern town-based Beldih Baptist Church and St George Church, GEl Church (at Sonari and Sitaramdera), St Mark Church (Mango), Church of our lady of Guadalupe (in Telco).
“We are all geared up for the Christmas and New Year. Officials at all the five traffic police outposts have been directed to keep vigil especially on approach roads to churches and initiate action against revellers indulging in rash driving and riding without helmets,” said traffic DSP Vivekananda Thakur. The traffic police outposts are at Bistupur, Sakchi, Golmuri, Mango and Jugsalai.
On the eve of Christmas day, a mass midnight prayer was organised in elaborate decoration at all the churches in city including St Mary’s Church, Bistupur, Beldih Baptist Church, Northern Town and St Anthony’s Church in Pursudih.
Special midnight holy mass was organised at the St. Joseph's Cathedral and other major churches. Just before the midnight mass, an image of child Jesus was brought by the priest preceded by rows of children holding lighted candles that were placed in the crib set up in the churches.
Special prayers were offered at churches and the pastors rendered select chapters from the Holy Bible. They exhorted the community members to be good to others and set an example.
“Jesus Christ was an apostle of peace and called upon people to coexist with camaraderie and brotherhood to spread peace. Christmas festival ushers in peace in lives of people all round the globe,” said John Fernandes, a resident of Northern Town.