(Clockwise from top) Children dress up as Santa Claus, women light candles at the Cantonment Road Catholic Church in Cuttack and Bakul Foundation’s Santa presents a sapling to a child in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati and Badrika Nath Das

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 25: The sledge turned into a bullock cart and multicoloured gift boxes turned green, as Santa Claus took to the streets here on Christmas distributing saplings to the people of the city.

Accompanied by a group of 30 youngsters and the cart loaded with over 300 saplings, Santa moved from Big Bazar near Janpath to Shriya Square mobilising the onlookers to plant trees.

The innovative way to celebrate Christmas was an initiative by city-based Bakul Foundation as a part of their Tree for Free campaign. Aimed to create an emotional connect between individuals and trees, the happiness of those, who received the saplings, knew no bounds.

“This is a one-of-its-kind gift that I have ever received on Christmas. It is extremely touching. I am going to keep it in my room,” said 23-year-old IT professional Sweety Samantray.

Christmas was celebrated with fervour and spirit throughout the state with midnight masses, humming of carols, decked-up churches and decorated trees and homes.

Worshipers thronged churches in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack from late last night braving the winter chill.

At the Church of Christ (Union Church) at Satya Nagar here, Bible reading sessions were conducted along with cultural programmes in the evening. Governor S.C. Jamir also visited the church and offered his prayers and greeted the people.

In Cuttack, all the 14 churches were decked up with over 20,000 people of the Christian community taking part in the mass prayers to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

Special prayers were organised at a few churches to pay tribute to those killed in the Peshawar school attack as well.

Speaking about the significance of the festival, Father Bijay of the Holy Rosary Cathedral Church along Cantonment Road, said: “Christmas is observed to celebrate universal brotherhood and seeking blessings from the God for peace in the society.”

People exchanged wishes and gifts with their families and acquaintances. Dressed in red and white, a number of people looking like Santa Claus were found at shopping malls, parks and churches.

“It was a great feeling to celebrate the festival with people from all walks of the society,” said Anindita Beehra, a 32-year-old schoolteacher residing near Mangala Bagh, Cuttack.

Hotels and clubs in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have also made elaborate arrangements for the festival that will continue till New Year. Christmas was also celebrated at other parts of the state with people congregating at the churches in large numbers.