Christmas celebration across the country, President Murmu, PM Modi extended best wishes
Today is Christmas festival. On Christmas Eve, midnight mass was held in churches across the country. President Draupadi Murmu and the Vice President have wished the people a Merry Christmas. In his congratulatory message on Sunday, he said that the festival of Christmas gives the message of love and compassion.
President Murmu visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi a day before Christmas. Children sang Christmas carols. The President prayed for the progress and welfare of humanity. He participated in functions and spent time with children. Churches were illuminated and people also burst crackers to celebrate winter festivals in Madhya Pradesh. On the occasion of Christmas, midnight mass prayers were organized at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church in Delhi.
Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created a sand sculpture of Santa Claus using onions at Puri’s Blue Flag beach with the message ‘Gift a plant, green the earth’ on Christmas eve. Sudarshan Patnaik said that two tonnes of onion has been used in making this huge statue. Every year, during Christmas, we try to make some different sculptures at the Blue Flag beach of Puri. This time we have created the world’s largest onion and sand installation Santa Claus which is 100 feet long, 20 feet high and 40 feet wide. We have used two tonnes. He said, ‘We tried to give a message ‘Give a plant as a gift, make the earth green.’
Prayers were also held at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Bengaluru. Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Carol singing, bright Christmas lights and decorated Christmas trees entice people to join in the festivities on December 25. People gather in large numbers for midnight mass prayers at Our Lady Queen Church in Siliguri, West Bengal.
Father Walter D Sa, Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji, said that people of other religions also celebrated Christmas. At midnight we celebrated Christmas and a good number of people were present there including people from other religions. All of them happily participated in our Christmas celebration. I extend my warm greetings to all my brothers and sisters and my friends and wish them all a merry and merry Christmas.
Prayers were also held at the Cathedral Basilica Santhome Church in Chennai. Christmas is the joy, peace and love of God that has come into the world for humanity. He comes for all men. There is no difference between human beings. Archbishop George Antonysamy, head of the Santhome Cathedral Basilica Church in Chennai, said, ‘He comes to each of us.
I once again wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.’ People burst crackers and participated in the midnight mass prayer held at a church in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of Christmas. Midnight mass was held at St. Vincent Pro-Cathedral in Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
On the occasion of Christmas, midnight mass prayer was organized at the Centenary Methodist Church in Vadodara, Gujarat. People gathered at a church in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh to participate in Christmas celebrations. Since the country is celebrating the winter festival of Christmas, Shimla, a favorite tourist destination, is decorated for this festival. However, some people in the city were a little disappointed as the midnight mass was canceled due to the ill health of the Church Father.
