India joins rest of the world in celebrating Christmas

Christmas marks the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

In the Vatican city, Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve with a late-night Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Tuesday.

Pope tweeted: " Dear brother, dear sister, if your hands seem empty, if you think your heart is poor in love, this night is for you. The grace of God has appeared to shine forth in your life. Accept it and the light of Christmas will shine forth in you." 

The day belongs to the Christian community but with the aid of fast paced globalisation, the festive spirit has engulfed the entire world and people belonging from different religion bask in the celebration of Christmas.

The Christian community makes it a point to pray at churches while for others it is a day for simply merriment.

With houses and shops have been decorated beautifully with Christmas trees, ribbons and bells, Christmas fever has surely gripped every corner of the globe on Thursday.

As a part of Christmas celebration, large number of people have gathered in the biblical town of Bethlehem.

In India, people are celebrating Christmas across the country and Christians are attending special church services to mark the occasion.

Almost every city in India is adorned with lights to bring in the flavour of the festive season which will continue till the New Year ushers in.

In Kolkata, the aroma of home-baked cakes wafted through the narrow lanes of Anglo-Indian ghettos of central Kolkata as the non-Christians joined the party with as much enthusiasm as the Christians.

Mother House, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity (MoC), is celebrating the day with special prayers and mass.

Decorated beautifully with garlands of light, Christmas tress and colourful bells, Park Street, the sunset boulevard of Kolkata, will remain awake for the whole night as more and more people are expected to assemble here to be a part of the festivity.

For the pious day, people throng in large number to the St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata or the Bandel Church on the outskirts of the city for midnight mass.

The day is also one for hitting the outdoors and organizing picnics while long queues were usual scenes at the city's zoo.

As food in an integral part of any kind of celebration in Kolkata, long queues were spotted out restaurants in the city.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the nation and tweeted: "Merry Christmas! We remember, with immense joy, the noble thoughts of Jesus Christ. He epitomised spirit of service and compassion, devoting his life towards alleviating human suffering. His teachings inspire millions across the world."

President Ram Nath Kovind posted: " Merry Christmas to all fellow citizens and especially to our Christian brothers and sisters in India and abroad. This is a day to renew our committment to values of compassion, love, fraternity. May Jesus Christ bless us all with happiness and joy."

Images courtesy: Xinhua/UNI, Avishek Mitra/IBNS, UNI