New Delhi: The Yuletide spirit gripped India from Monday midnight as Christians ushered in Christmas amid much fanfare and a tight security blanket and the rest of India joined in the festivities.
There were mass and church services at midnight all across the country and people from all walks of life joined in the festivities.
In Delhi, worshippers thronged the Sacred Heart Cathedral and other churches right from Sunday evening and the fanfare lasted till the early hours of Monday.
Traditional fervour and gaiety marked the celebration of Christmas across the nation.
The celebrations began with midnight mass and prayers at various churches in Delhi, where large number of worshippers gathered.
Hundreds of Christians thronged the Sacred Heart Cathedral and the Gole Dak Khana Church in the heart of the capital at midnight for prayers and church.
Cakes, bread and cookies were also distributed in Churches bedecked with Christmas trees.
The city wore a festive look on the occasion with shoppers descending to various markets decorated with Christmas trees and replicas of snow-capped mountains to reflect the festive spirit of Christmas.
The 'new-look' Central Park of Connaught Place which reopened for the public last week is often packed with crowds of picknickers.
To ring in the spirit of Christmas, singing contests, painting competitions and rides with 'Santa Claus' for children have been organised in various areas and markets during the day.
On this occasion, Appu Ghar at Pragati Maidan has organised several programmes, including a dance competition for children and a special snow dance by 'Santa Claus'.
In Mumbai, Mount Mary church in Bandra turned into a massive party while other churches too drew huge crowds. In Chennai, Christians filled the Santhome Cathedral.
Goa kicked off week-long Christmas festivity and New Year celebration from Sunday midnight as the beach country ushered in Christmas amid tight security cover. There was tight security surveillance at all churches for the midnight Christmas mass. Metal detectors were installed at the entrance of the churches, as devotees began gathering for prayers.
In a Christmas message, the Archbishop of Goa suggested creating a new world order, "wherein people of all hues and colours can join hands with one another and carry on working in a collaborative spirit to re-create the earth into a place where justice, peace, understanding and forgiveness will be the hallmarks."
"Christmas is a festival of joy, a joy that is today celebrated in various forms, ranging from the deeply spiritual to the purely secular," he said.
St Immaculate conception church in the city was virtually turned into a fortress with a posse of Goa police and Central Industrial Security Force, guarding it. Celebrations and services were also held at St James Cathedral in Kolkata and St Mary's Cathedral in Thiruvananthapuram among others.
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