Midnight mass, carols usher in a merry Christmas

New Delhi, Dec 25 (PTI) Midnight mass at illuminated
churches ushered in Christmas across various cities in the
country Friday with gospel bands enthralling the devouts,
people taking out colourful processions and making a beeline
for designer cakes and traditional delicacies.
The festival was celebrated in all its fervour in
Christian dominated states of Kerala and the Northeast.
In Kerala, the faithful in large numbers turned up for
midnight mass in churches across the state, including the
three Catholic rites--Syro Malabar, Syro Malankara and Latin
hierarchies.
Senior prelates led the special services at the
diocesan headquarters, giving out the message of love, hope
and peace as symbolised by Christmas.
Churchyards displayed tableaux of the birth of Jesus
in a manger in Bethlehem with the three wise men from the East
looking with great hope at the new born.
The Kerala Government organised Christmas fairs
throughout the state, where essentials and provisions were
sold at subsidised rates in view of their rising prices.
In Tamil Nadu, the famous Santhome Basilica and Shrine
Vailankanni Church in Chennai wore a festive look as people
thronged the venues on the occasion.
Thousands of devouts from all over the country also
converged at the famous pilgrim town of Vailankanni in
Nagapattinam district. MORE PTI