The holy Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated yesterday in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world with festivity and enthusiasm commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ. According to Christian’s faith, the Xmas is the celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and human beings.

Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ on the day, which is a public holiday in Bangladesh and most other countries across the world. On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages by greeting the members of the Christian community.

The Christians in Bangladesh celebrated the Xmas festival with huge enthusiasm and religious fervor and holding special prayers, illuminating churches and installing makeshift Xmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions.

Ringing of church bells in the midnight marked the advent of the day when the followers of the faith welcomed it with carols assembling in churches and other such venues.

Churches and adjoining areas were decked out with colourful tiny blinking lights, while illuminated Christmas trees placed with a star standing right on top as elder people of the community attired in the outfit of Santa Claus made fun with children and distributed gifts as part of a universal Christian practice.

The security was beefed up at different strategic points in the capital and many other places of the country to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival.