People across Meghalaya on Tuesday celebrated Christmas by attending church services, offering prayers, exchanging gifts and participating in community feasts.

Since morning, priests and pastors presided over prayer services in various churches, attended by scores of people.

Midnight mass was also celebrated on Monday in several places. Chief minister Conrad K. Sangma attended midnight mass at St Luke’s Church in Walbakgre near Tura, West Garo Hills district.

Several houses were decked up with Christmas trees, decorative lights and the symbolic Star of Bethlehem to welcome Christmas Day.

On Tuesday, at several places in Garo hills, community feasts were organised soon after church services.

In his message, governor Tathagata Roy said: “On the happy and joyous occasion of Christmas, I wish the people of Meghalaya a merry Christmas and hope that the spirit and warmth of Christmas will bestow enduring peace, brotherhood, prosperity and happiness in the life of every citizen of the state.”

Conrad also greeted the people. “As we gather with our friends and families to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, let us imbibe the spirit of love, hope, peace, compassion, and forgiveness.”

In Assam, people of all faiths took part in the celebrations at churches and institutions in Guwahati besides in other parts of the state, a staff reporter adds from Guwahati.

In Christian-dominated areas, especially in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) comprising Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, Christmas was celebrated with gusto. The hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao wore festive look with churches decked up and hundreds attending church services.

The festival was also celebrated with traditional fervour in Christian-dominated Nagaland and Mizoram with thousands attending midnight mass and participating in community feasts. The churches prayed for peace and progress and the prevalence of good over evil.

Christmas was celebrated in Christian-dominated Mizoram with traditional fervour and merrymaking, adds PTI. Prayers were held in churches across the state since Christmas eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Carols and free Gospel street concerts marked the programmes, while mass singing of Christmas songs in traditional tunes continued till evening. Community feasts were organised by some church denominations and contributions made to hospitals and destitutes’ homes. Police said Christmas celebrations across the state were completely peaceful.

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma and his family attend a midnight mass on Tuesday. UB Photos