Mangaluru : The Christians of coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod celebrated Christmas with great pomp and gaiety. Most of the churches had the grand Christmas mass on Saturday.

Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza celebrated the grand mass at Rosario Cathedral in the city. Though almost all the churches in the coastal districts had started the preparations for making the crib about a month ago, the final touches were given on the eve of Christmas.

In Mangalore city, cribs at all the churches, including Cathedral (Rosario), Lady of Miracles (Milagres), St Sebastian’s Church (Bendoor), Holy Cross Church (Kulshekar), Infant Jesus shrine (Bikarnakatta), St Joseph’s Seminary (Jeppu), St Rita’s church (Casia), Guardian Angel church (Angelore), St Lawrence (Bondel), Mother Theresa (Paldane), St Francis Xavier church (Bejai) and Our Lady of Immaculate Conception (Urwa) – seemed to be better than the other. A few churches had recreated Bethlehem – the birth place of Jesus Christ.

No church in Dakshina Kannada district had midnight mass. However, many churches organised sports activities and fun games for the parishioners on Sunday. Incidentally, December 25 is a Sunday this year.

The city is wearing a festive look for the past few days. Be it making crib, decorating roofs/apartments with Christmas stars or making ‘Kuswar’ (the traditional sweets made during Christmas season which include Nevryo, Kideo, Gulio, Kokkisan, Rice Laddu, Tukdi and of course, cakes), every Catholic family was busy in one or the other way.

Many well-known bakeries made a brisk business and a number of shop owners had set up ‘temporary’ bakeries (with shamiyana covering on top) by the roadside in many places in the city.

Modernisation has dampened the spirit of many families as they have preferred to purchase the ‘Kuswar’ items from bakeries than preparing them at home. Many bakeries sold ‘gift packs’ ranging between Rs 300 and Rs 500.

As a part of tradition, many Christians also exchanged the Kuswar with their brethren and distributed among the non-Christians.