Subdued Xmas in Ockhi-hit Kanniyakumari

However, in Kanniyakumari district, fishermen stayed away from Christmas celebrations and hoisted black flags atop houses, to express solidarity with the families of missing and deceased fishermen in Cyclone Ockhi.

Justin Antony, Founding President, International Fishermen Development Trust (INFIDET), said that 156 fishermen in 18 boats from eight coastal villages in Kanniyakumari district, from Erayumanthurai to Neerody, present in Thoothoor region, are still missing. He had demanded the government to declare them dead if they do not return by December 31 and to provide compensation to the family of the deceased.

Special prayers

However, Christmas was welcomed with masses, special prayer sessions, in many of the churches in the district at midnight on Monday. Thousands of devotees participated and exchanged Christmas greetings at the St Mary’s cathedral, where Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop of Madurai, conducted a special prayer.

In the ‘Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica’, called as ‘Panimaya Madha Church’ in Thoothukudi, thousands of devotees attended the midnight special prayer. Similarly in St. Peter’s Church in Thoothukudi, children and members of the church sang carols.

On Sunday night, as part of celebrations, decorated idols of Jesus Christ were taken along the main streets of Thoothukudi and a large number of ‘Christmas cribs’ were also taken in the vehicles. However, there was a sudden duel between policemen, and youth involved in the carols. Therefore, the youth staged a road roko.

However, police persuaded them to continue and complete the rituals as quickly as possible.

At a private hotel, in Thoothukudi, a novel Christmas tree made of beer bottles was the cynosure.

Similarly, at St.Xavier’s Church in Palayamkottai, special prayer sessions were conducted by Bishop Jude Palraj.