Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120557660200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

With carols, Christmas festivities set in

Staff Reporter

— Photo: M. Moorthy

Precursor: Students of St. John’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School singing carols in Tiruchi on Thursday.

TIRUCHI: With the singing of carols by the students of St. John’s Vestry Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, a festival mood to receive with full preparedness the Christmas setting in on Thursday.

The entire Schwartz Hall of the school kept swelling all through with a large number of young women and children having a glimpse of the students standing at an elevation and singing the carols.

In all 19 songs – 13 carols and the rest six common choir – were presented on the occasion.

‘Advent candle’

Delivering an address, the Director and Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Joseph Eye Hospital, C. A. Nelson Jesudasan, highlighted the significance of ‘advent’. He said the four candles lit on the four Sundays preceding the festival symbolised hope, peace, joy and love.

The Principal of the School, Relton said the students underwent a rigorous practice from the teachers.

Students from the primary to higher secondary section participated in the ceremony. On the advent candle, he said, it signified the reception accorded to the holy arrival of the King. Christmas marked the honour of the birth of the Son of God.

The ceremony commenced with the ‘O Come; O Come Immanuel’. Bible reading, arrival of Santa Claus with jingle bell, and prayer by Rev. M. Guna Jothimani were the other special features of the ceremony.

Dr. Ramola Nelson lighted the Advent Candle. Dr. Shanthi Thilak, Chaplain, Rev. D. Rajadorai, Correspondent of the school, participated.

Silent night

A silent night was observed with a mass singing as a mark of homage those who sacrificed their lives during the terrorists attack in Mumbai recently.