Homes and churches were decked up with festive lights, Christmas trees and wreaths...

Panaji, Dec 25 (PTI) Homes and churches were decked up with festive lights, Christmas trees and wreaths, as the residents of Goa celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ on Tuesday with traditional gusto. People thronged churches in large numbers to attend midnight mass, and sang Christmas carols and exchanged gifts. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar greeted people of the state on the occasion.

Houses across Goa, a former Portuguese colony with a large Christian population, wore a festive look, decorated with beautiful Christmas trees and cribs displaying the birth of Lord Jesus. Midnight masses were held at the famous Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji and other churches which dot the coastal state. Preparations for the festival had begun since the last week with markets, specially in the two main cities of Panaji and Margao, packed with Christmas shoppers as they bought decorative items, gifts, clothes and sweets.

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha

Celebrations will now continue till the New Year in the beach state where thousands of tourists have already arrived and more are expected in the coming days. The governor, in her message, said Lord Jesus gave people the valuable and eternal message of peace, tolerance, compassion, love and sacrifice. "It is an appropriate occasion for us to carry the spirit of Christmas to foster the values that Jesus Christ professed and practised for the benefit of humanity," she said in an official release.

"Ours is a secular country, where people belonging to various faiths live in harmony, amity, social solidarity and unity. Religious and spiritual festivals are occasions when we renew these qualities, in order to lead a peaceful and wholesome life," Sinha said. She called upon people to rededicate themselves to live together as member of one family and work for greater glory and progress of the nation.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar

Chief Minister Parrikar in his message said, "This Christmas, let us resolve to promote unity and be the harbinger of peace and development in the state. Let us all unite and work for the welfare of the state by channelising all our efforts and energy in ensuring progress of our state."  He wished that the joys and festivities may continue to radiate everyone's life. Meanwhile, tourism industry stake-holders felt that the response of Christmas and New Year revellers was tepid this time around as compared to last year due to a number of reasons like higher taxes and expensive hotel stay.

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) chairman Savio Messiah told PTI on Monday that tourist footfalls were decreasing every year due to heavy taxation that had a cascading effect on boarding expenses. He called for immediate corrective measures by the Central and state governments. The state tourism department also admitted a slump in hotel occupancies, but said it was hopeful that the tourist footfall will pick up by December 31, as the year 2018 draws to a close.