Churches glow with lights as markets bustle late into the night across the twin cities
RAWALPINDI:
The Christian community of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will celebrate the Christmas festival today (Thursday) with religious devotion, reverence and great enthusiasm, in line with celebrations taking place around the world.
Churches and Christian neighbourhoods across both cities have been adorned with colourful lights, flags and Christmas trees, while the distribution of Christmas cakes has begun in Christian homes and surrounding areas.
Wednesday night marked Christmas Chand Raat, prompting a surge in festive shopping. As a result, commercial centres, markets and shopping malls in Rawalpindi and Islamabad remained open until 2am.
Christian families, including children, were seen shopping late into the night, leading to severe traffic congestion in major markets. Garment and footwear shops witnessed particularly heavy crowds, while bakeries experienced an exceptional rush, with families purchasing between four and 10 cakes at a time.
Owing to Christmas Chand Raat, churches remained active throughout the night, with large numbers of families attending worship until the early hours of dawn. Religious hymns were sung, and poetic tributes were offered in devotion to the Holy Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).
This year, Christmas shopping proved significantly more expensive, with prices of most items rising by around 80 per cent. Decorative materials for Christmas trees were also nearly double in price. Nevertheless, purchasing remained at its peak, and Christmas trees were decorated in virtually every Christian household.
Public transport operators, including taxis, rickshaws, Qingqi and bike services, also charged inflated fares, capitalising on the festive occasion.
For Christmas Day, all churches have been equipped with closed-circuit cameras, while security guards have been deployed alongside police personnel. Metal detectors will be used for thorough screening, and female search staff have also been assigned. Christmas worship services will commence at 9am today (Wednesday).
Christian leaders, pastors and clergy have expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements in all small and large churches and Christian colonies across the twin cities.
The focal persons of the Archbishop of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Babu Sajid and Rashid Chauhan, along with Pastor Asif, Pastor Qaiser and Priest Elias Masih, stated that the police and civil administration had put in place exemplary security measures.
They added that Christmas cake-cutting ceremonies held in various institutions, ministries, police offices and government departments have instilled renewed confidence and encouragement within the Christian community.
Special recreational arrangements have also been made at all amusement parks, including the installation of new rides. On Christmas Day, 25 December, all recreational parks will remain open from 9am until 1am.
