Locals, tourists celebrate Christmas with Kashmir's Christian community

Srinagar: As Kashmir recorded the season's coldest night at minus seven degrees Celsius, locals and tourists joined the Christian community in Chris- tmas celebrations across the Valley.

A group of local Muslims visited a Catholic church in Srinagar to celebrate the festival, which they said will send a message of communal harmony and brotherhood. Three major churches in the city centre were abuzz with celebrations and people thronged the premises throughout the day. "We don't want this small Christian community here to feel alone or isolated. We wanted to share the happiness," said a local Muslim, who was present in the church and distributed sweets as well.

In the ski resort of Gulmarg, tourists participated in the Christmas celebrations and went to the local Saint Mary's church as well.


The tourism department in Kashmir has planned week-long celebrations in tourist destinations Gulmarg and Pahalgam from December 24-31, to celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve, with several programmes including games and music carnivals.

"We have tried to make better arrangements for the celebrations. There is a festive atmosphere here in Gulmarg and one gala event is planned on the New Year's Eve in Pahalgam as well," said Fazlul Haseeb, director at the tourism department in Kashmir. "With another spell of snowfall, the number of tourists in Gulmarg will increase manifold."