After almost two years of festivities being dampened by the Covid-19 pandemic, massive crowds thronged churches across the country on the occasion of Christmas with special midnight masses, pealing bells, and the singing of carols.
Traditional zeal, pomp and enthusiasm were visible even in parks and public places, where people from different communities came forward to celebrate the festival by joining hands with their Christian friends and fellow travellers.
In Kerala, Goa, and the North East, the occasion marked a significant tourism event, with visitors from within and outside the country joining the celebrations.
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Delhi also witnessed massive celebrations marking the occasion.
“Compared with the pandemic years, Christmas this year was celebrated with pomp and grandeur. Though some pandemic-related threats are still in the air, people celebrated grandly,” Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), told South First.
“With people joining the celebrations ignoring their differences, Christmas remains an inclusive and uniting event that promotes the causes of social solidarity and communal amity,” he added.
Christmas in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
Across the country, the occasion was celebrated in an atmosphere charged with devotion.
People were seen occupying public places, greeting friends and relatives, and exchanging gifts.
Devotees were seen in winter attires as the mercury dropped significantly in most parts of India.
In Tamil Nadu, Governor RN Ravi, Chief Minister MK Stalin, and leaders of different political parties extended warm greetings to people on the occasion of Christmas.
Meanwhile, Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, ministers, legislators, and leaders of political parties also extended greetings.
“Christmas celebrates the birth of Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed the earth with love and compassion and enriched it with peace and harmony. His message of forgiveness is a precious gift for humanity, underscoring that all the people are one family and one future,” Ravi said in his greetings.
“May Christmas bring health, happiness and harmony to all of us,” he said in a release from his office-cum-residence, Raj Bhavan.
Stalin, in his message, appealed to Christians to celebrate the festival with joy and happiness, besides promoting brotherhood and helping the poor.
He listed some of the schemes announced by the DMK for the welfare of the Christians in Tamil Nadu, including the increase of grants for taking the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The state government was firm in enhancing the socioeconomic standards of Christians and protecting their rights, he said in an official release.
AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and leaders of other political parties also extended their greetings.
In her message, Soundararajan — who is also the Governor of Telangana — said Jesus Christ championed the cause for love, affection, and compassion.
“Christmas is being celebrated sans barriers, and we all should adhere to love and affection dearest to Christ,” she said.
The Governor also appealed to the people to celebrate with adherence to norms to prevent a new wave of Covid-19.
Puducherry Chief Minister Rangasamy, in his message, said charity, love, and forgiveness, as propagated and practised by Christ, should be part of everyone’s life to achieve peace and mutual understanding.
Telangana leaders extend greetings
In Telangana, Christmas was celebrated with traditional fervour, pomp and joy on Sunday, with churches holding masses.
Special prayers were conducted and midnight masses were held across the state, with churches witnessing a massive turnout of devotees.
Morning masses were organised on Sundays, and people greeted others with gifts.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao extended Christmas greetings to the people of the state and the country.
Rao was quoted in a release from the CMO as saying that the teachings of Jesus Christ, who spread the values of peace, compassion, tolerance and love to the world, contributed to the universal human brotherhood.
People decorated their homes with colourful lights, and churches and restaurants were also illuminated across the state.
Other political parties, leaders greet people
In Kerala, Governor Arif Muhammad Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan greeted people on Christmas and stressed the importance of spreading love and peace.
The chief minister recalled the contributions of Christians in nation-building. He urged the community to remain a force that binds the country’s secular fabric.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also greeted people on the occasion.
In his message, Bommai urged people to imbibe the qualities of love, peace, and harmony in their lives, as Jesus Christ preached.
In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wished all the people of the state, saying that compassion, love, charity, and sacrifice were among the great messages that Christ gave to humanity throughout his life.
He said that Jesus Christ guided mankind to the path of truth.
