Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The Capital city is gearing itself up for Christmas celebrations in its own way. Some are busy buying Christmas trees, Santa dresses, cakes, gifts and chocolates while others are planning to spend the day in prayers and attending masses at the church. Gauri Shankar Sahoo, owner of Christmas seasonal shop at
Ram Mandir, says he has been in the business for 16 years. “This year, a lot of people are coming in large numbers to buy Christmas items such as Santa dolls and Christmas trees. This year, we brought some new products like jelly candles which will burn for more hours than the normal wax candles do’’, Sahoo adds. Products attracting buyers these days are Santa fancy dresses which
parents of children want for their kids’ participation in their school functions and fancy dress competitions. Ashok Sahoo, another shopkeeper says, “This year, we had stopped bringing Chinese products because of public resentment. Hence, we had difficulty in meeting all demands of our customers”. “The pine trees, Christmas bells, stars, caps and decorative pieces are
doing well. I hope, to make some brisk business close to X’mas day,” he adds, Anita Das, a housewife, said like Diwali and Dussehra Christmas is also part of our celebration. “I buy trees and
decor items like bulbs, stars for X’mas tree and my house.” All bakery shops in the city seem to be doing brisk business. Avinash Mohapatra of a bakery shop at Sahid Nagar said, “We prepare cakes for Christmas. This year, we prepared special cakes using fruits and ice-cream garnishing with de
signs of Santa on the cakes. We are selling around 200 cakes a day,” he said. Special gift packs containing cakes, cookies and drinks are being prepared at his shop, he claimed. Saint Vincent Pro-Cathedral church, which is considered the oldest church in the city, has been illuminated with colourful lights for the Christmas. A large Christmas tree has been installed at the church and stage has been set to showcase the birth of Christ in a manger. The preparations are almost complete, claimed Akash Nayak of Saint Vincent ProCathedral. Packed gifts attached to Xmas trees will be opened on the day of Christmas and cakes will be given away on the Christmas night, stated Amrit Tate of the cathedral. Fr. Prasanna Kumar Pradhan, priest of Saint Vincent Catholic Church said celebration of “Nativity of Our Lord” will be celebrated on the intervening night of December 24-25,’’ he revealed. “The Christmas celebrations at our church have begun December 17 involving poor children. December 21-22 has been scheduled for English carol singing and prayers, says Fr. R Ayuv Chhinchani of Church of Christ (Union Church).
