Christmas in Karachi

Update Christmas 2011: Karachi is lit up again to celebrate the christmas and new year for 2011 & 2012. This year’s main feature might so proclaimed largest star of the country that has been lit up in Karachi by a loal man called “Sadiq” the backers of the city are busy making x-mas cakes and the churches are being cleaned up for the festival. The best place to visit on christmas day would be st. Patricks church or any of the churches in Karachi.

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Christmas season is here and just like any other festive occasion like Eid or Diwali there is a spirit of joy, happiness and goodwill in the air, which makes one fuel good, especially in these gloomy times.

The Christian community in Karachi celebrates the occasion with equal zeal and fervor with people starting the festivities by shopping well ahead of the occasion as they have to purchase a lor of things, especially gifts, for their loved ones.

Then there is the task of decorating the Christmas tree with beautiful adornmcnts such as rrinkets, bells and coloured lights. Beautifully wrapped gifts are placed under the Lrut: to be opened on Christrnas morning. Shopping malls have Santa Claus and some charities give away gifts to children. Schools have tablcaux high. lighting the birth cf Christ while TV channels show Chritsmas related movies and plays, the most famous being A Ciuistnaus Caml by Charles Dickens, at personal favourite A significant aspect of Christmas is carol singing with major choirs singing in prominent churches of the city such as St Anthonys, St Lawrence and of course St Patricltis Cathedral where the largest congregation for midnight mass is held on Christms eve.

The Karachi Vocal Ensemble, a concert group fnrrned in 2004, plays a major role in Christmas also. Tho group cumprising Koreams, Japanese and Britons along with Pakisttanis – both Christian and Muslims recently staged at peformance For Christmas at the French cultural center Alliance Francaise, with beautiful reudiations of different carois.

A similar concert was also staged by the- group at the British High Cotrunission. Thu spirit of any festive occa- sion – irrespective nf its reli- gious status ?- is to create good- wilJ and spread the message of love, peace and harmony to mankind and God alone knows Karachians as well as the entire country can spread love, peace and harmony.