Christmas marked with gaiety and fervour across the country

Christmas was celebrated with traditional gaiety and religious fervour across the country.

Churches were packed with people not only of Christian belief but also of other religions and faiths.

Bedecked with balloons and star-shaped lights, the scene of baby Jesus in the manger with Mary was recreated in a number of churches.

In the northeast, especially the states of Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Nagaland that are predominantly Christian, church bells echoed in the hills and thousands of people thronged churches to join in festive prayers and songs in celebration of Jesus' birth.

"Christmas is the day when people tend to forgive and forget everything and simply rejoice. This is also the day when people pray for peace and prosperity of the state, the nation, and for the entire human race at large," Thomas Menamparampil, the Archbishop of Assam, told IANS.

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.

Christians make up 22 percent of Kerala's 32 million population and the festival is celebrated with much fanfare.

Amidst the Telangana chaos, Andhra Pradesh also saw thousands of devout Christians assembled in churches to offer morning prayers and to light candles.

In his message, Chief Minister K Rosaiah appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony and keep away from violence.

Fortunately, in view of Christmas Telangana leaders called off a bandh after an appeal by a Christian organisation.

Christians in Kashmir, meanwhile, on the occasion of Christmas prayed for peace to return in the insurgency-hit state.

The region's tourism minister Rigzin Jora joined scores of Christians in a mass at a church in the ski resort of Gulmarg, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Kashmiri summer capital Srinagar.

"Everyone prayed for return of peace to our beautiful region," said Jora, according to AFP.