Staff Correspondent
Shillong: Meghalaya joined the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas with religious fervor. Throughout the State, the Christians welcome the Christmas by the midnight mass and prayer service. The day started with all members of the family decked with the best of their attire attending their respective churches where they were reminded of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
It was also an occasion where the Christian faitfulls visit each other houses during the evening while some have their respective family feast amidst the dipping temperature that hovers around 5-6 degrees celcuis in the evening.
For most of them who are either studying or working outside the State, Christmas is one occasion that they can come together as a family. Jacinta Nongran, an employee in a multi-national company in Singapore told this correspondent, “Its six years that I have left home for my work but there is nothing like being home for every Christmas.”
Not only the so called indigeneuous people of the State, the non-tribals population who have move out of Shillong rekindles the spirit of yuletide of the city years ago. This is evident from the numerous posts in the social media where they long to enjoy the cold winter and warm Christmas celebrations.
Amidst the joyous and peaceful celebrations, this year footfall of tourist from Assam and West Bengal declined. From Elephant falls to Shillong, the caterers of tourist vouched when the Sentinel visited today. They see the recent agitation against the CAA in the state as well as the ongoing turmoil in Assam and West Bengal as reasons for the downslide in the inflow of tourists.
However for the state of Meghalya, 26th and 27th will also be a time for community feast in their respective churches.