New Delhi - Midnight Christmas mass was attended by thousands of Christians amid heavy security across India's eastern state of Orissa that had witnessed widespread anti-Christian violence earlier this year, a news report said Thursday.

"We have not received information of any trouble. It seems to be all peaceful," Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop of Bhubaneshwar, the state capital, told the IANS news agency.

Cheenath said the Christmas mass was held with prayers and singing in churches across the state, adding that he was satisfied with the security arrangements made by the government.

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 23 : Artisans from different parts of the country and abroad are exhibiting their works at an ongoing 13-day handicraft fair here.

The fair is a major draw for art and craft lovers to watch a variety of works of art including palm-leaf paintings, woodcrafts, ethnic hand-woven clothes and sculptures.

Most of the stalls here are looking like thatched huts fitting well into the theme of the fair "Rural crafts making".

A census conducted at Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa this year has shown the presence of over one lakh birds.

"An estimated 1,01,293 birds, including migratory feathered guests were sighted during the annual bird census 2008, carried out in the water bodies of the Bhitarkanika National park and its nearby areas on December 11 and 12," informed Rajnagar forest (Mangrove) and Wildlife Division DFO P K Behera.

Engineering and construction major, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has received three orders worth Rs 1,372 crore from three different steel companies for engineering related works.

The company has received an order worth Rs 516 crore from Vedanta Aluminium for setting up of an alumina refinery at its three-million-tonne-per-annum (MTPA) Lanjigarh plant in Orissa.

The scope of the order, which would be completed in 20 months, involves civil, structure, tanks, equipment erection, piping and commissioning assistance for the alumina refinery.

Orissa government has decided to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay commission for state. The revised pay scale of employees would be effective from January along with the 40 percent of the arrear for 35 months. The decision is aimed to get the support of thousands of employees in the forthcoming election of state assembly.

On Monday, Orissa govt. stated forcefully that it will not permit the state-wide shut-down on Christmas day called by some Hindu groups.

Announcing this in side assembly Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "No shutdown will be permitted Dec 25. The government will come down heavily on those who try to create any trouble.”

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti (SLSSS), an organization linked to Hindu out-fits has threatened to observe Orissa Bandh on Dec 25 if the Govt. fails to arrest all those involved in the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. 

The police have already arrested seven persons, including four on Sunday in connection with the killing of Swamiji.