Thaindian News

Kolkata, Dec 25 (IANS) Cakes, cookies, wine and midnight masses at churches amid tight security marked Christmas celebrations across West Bengal. St. Paul’s Cathedral in Kolkata and other churches across the state were crowded by people cutting across religious lines to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ Sunday.

All city churches and cathedrals, decorated with colourful festoons, paper stars, Christmas trees, twinkling lights and candles, held daylong prayers since midnight on Christmas Eve.

Celebrations were on in full swing at the brightly lit Bow Barracks - the hub of Anglo-Indians in central Kolkata- with home brewed wine and cakes, songs and dances.

Park Street area of south Kolkata, which oozes a British era charm and is famous for Christmas celebrations, remained wide awake since Saturday night. All shops and restaurants of the area were decorated with Christmas trees, models of Santa Claus, colourful ribbons and lights.

Most of the city hotels and restaurants have included scrumptious turkey dishes and delicious cakes, while the bakeries too have lined up a wide variety of their wares.

The Hyatt’s La Cucina has prepared a special Pranzo (Italian) menu, with roasted leg of lamb with Christmas pudding, Italian Christmas dessert-Panettone accompanied by unlimited select premium spirits, wine, beer and Prosecco (Italian wine).

Various bakeries and confectionaries of the city have come up with new kinds of cakes and cookies.

Exchange of greetings and gifts, visits to relatives, games and sports among children and community feasts marked celebrations in the state.

Large queues- comprising mostly kids- were seen at the city zoo, Victoria Memorial Hall and the Indian Museum. Some people organised picnics.

Young couples thronged various parks across the city to spend some time together.

Meanwhile, police had geared up the security arrangements in the city to ensure a safe Christmas.

“We have deployed additional forces across the city. Checking has been arranged at every entry and exit of the city,” said Javed Shamim, joint commissioner, Kolkata Police.