PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 24: Peak winter, shops flooded with X-mas trees of all sizes, gifts and plum cakes, all churches decked up — the steel city is ready for Christmas.
On the occasion of Christmas-eve on Friday, almost all churches in the steel city are set to start their first prayer service in the evening.
Morning Mass will begin around 6.30am on Saturday. An evening prayer service will be held around 7.30pm.
The St Joseph’s Cathedral in Golmuri, the biggest church here, is expected to draw a huge footfall match.
There are seven Roman Catholic churches in Jamshedpur, at Golmuri, Bistupur, Telco, Sonari, Parsudih, Kitadih and Mango.
Brisk shopping is taking place for the last couple of days. Shoppers had a field day yesterday. While Santa caps for anywhere between Rs 20 and Rs 399, musical Santa and toys between the range of Rs 149 and Rs 349 proved to be most popular, Christmas trees catered to all budgets from Rs 59 to Rs 7,000.
Many picked up Christ and Mother Mary mementos and showpieces starting from Rs 399, or crib sets ranging between Rs 600 and Rs 750 as Christmas gifts.
City hotels have also jumped on the Yuletide bandwagon with Christmas dinners. Hotel Ramada and The Alcor Hotel in Bistupur is all decked up for the celebration.
The Boulevard Hotel, on Bistupur Main Road, has organised special decorations. It had also hosted Christmas carols on Thursday.
