Srinagar: Christmas, was today celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region.
Bells tolled in churches in the city and elsewhere across the Valley, including world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in south Kashmir as the faithful took part in late night prayers.
Wearing colourful and woolen clothes, they exchanged pleasantries and distributed sweets to mark the fextival spirit in the city.
In view of the allegation of conversion, this time adequate security arrangements had been made outside the churches in the city to avoid any unpleasant incident.
Father Mathew addressing congregation in a church at Moulana Azad road near here stressed the need for brotherhood and communal harmony.
He prayed for restoration of peace in the Valley.
Without referring to recent controversy over the conversion allegation, he said, he invites everybody to attend a peace meeting on December 30.
Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a pastor of the All India Saints Church on November 20 after a case was registered in a local police station for allegedly converting Muslim youths into Christianity in the Kashmir valley.
Pastor Khanna was also summoned by Sharia court headed by Grand Mufti of the Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Bashir-ud-Din after a video had surfaced here in October in which he was allegedly shown baptising at least six Muslim and one Hindu youth.
Sharia court officials said initially Khanna denied of converting any youth, but admitted to it after he was shown evidences. (KMW News)
