AGARTALA, Dec 14 (TIWN): Keeping eye on the upcoming celebration of the Christmas on December 25, preparation is going on in full-swing at among one of the oldest church of Tripura Mariam Nagar Church.

Barely eleven days left for the grand celebration of the most awaited day, when the people all across the State decorates their houses and have a grand meal as a part of the celebration.

Reportedly, the decoration work of the church has begun from December 13.

The day is to be observed through various religious and cultural events including musical shows. Community feasts were also organised at various venues.

Mariam Nagar Church community has been gearing up for the up-coming celebration; preparation has been going on to make cow shed and many other decorative items as part of the celebration.

Besides, the capital of Tripura had been gearing up for the year-end festivities with spectacular illumination and festoons while Christmas trees and wreaths adorned almost every shops of the capital city Agartala.

Churches, missionary schools and institutions are getting decorated with colourful buntings and lights.

The beginning of the Christian faith in Tripura dates back many centuries. Fr. Ignatius Gomes, a Jesuit priest made the first reference to the Christians of Mariamnagar in Agartala when he visited them in 1683.

Along with the Mariam Nagar Church of Agartala, the churches of schools like St. Paul’s School Church, Don Bosco School, Holy Cross School and many others are gearing up with all the decorative items.

It is to be mentioned here that Mariamnagar is actually a historical site. The Catholic Church in this sparsely populated pastoral scenario had once been used by Portuguese settlers.

The Portuguese who had fought for the king as mercenaries settled down in Tripura after the war had ended in 1585. When king Krishna Manikya shifted Tripura’s capital from Udaipur to ‘Puran Haveli’ in 1760 the Portuguese, though considerably reduced in number by then, settled there. But they settled down in Mariamnagar when king Krishna Kishore Manikya (1830-1849) shifted capital from ‘Puran Haveli’ to present Agartala in 1838.