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A Christmas mass after 14 years

By Shujaat Bukhari

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and the State Tourism Minister, Gulam Hassan Mir, coming out of the Saint Mary's Church, Gulmarg, where Christmas mass was held after a gap of 14 years on Thursday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

GULMARG DEC. 25. The 110-year-old St. Mary's Church in this famous resort town wore a new look today, its renovated façade visible through a thick blanket of snow. The first Christmas mass in 14 years was attended by over 100 people, including the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Tourism Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir, and senior officials.

The church has been refurbished, cleaned and decorated by the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) on the directions of Mr. Sayeed, who in his brief speech after the mass said that Gulmarg, though devoid of a regular population, symbolised the State's secular character. A Rani temple, a mosque and a gurdwara on the opposite sides of the church complete "a circle". But for over a decade, these places of worship have been almost closed.

Mr. Sayeed said: "We want to see Kashmir back on the track so that people can come freely without any fear." He lauded the role of the GDA and its chief executive officer, Farooq Ahmed Shah, and said that the town had come out of a dark phase and was "now an attractive tourist destination."

A beaming Reverend C.M. Khanna of the All Saints Church in Srinagar, who had come to lead the prayers, told : "Two years ago I saw the church in a completely dilapidated condition but the Government came forward and it has been renovated. I am delighted to see people from different faiths coming to celebrate Christmas with us. We all prayed for peace, stability and goodwill."

The few Christian families present were upbeat watching Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus standing together in prayers. "We are very happy," said Salim, who had come from Srinagar. A group of tour and travel operators who had arrived in the town on Wednesday evening also participated in the mass. "We cannot believe our eyes as we only read about the deaths and violence in newspapers," said Reena from Delhi.

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