Carols, church bells, prayers mark Christmas in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Dec 25 : Ringing of bells, prayers and carols in hundreds of churches across Maharashtra heralded Christmas celebrations to mark the birth of infant Jesus at the stroke of midnight.

According to a spokesman for the Archbishop's Office in Mumbai, Christmas celebrations were normal with the enthusiastic and active participation of the members of the community in the city and rest of the state.

Thousands of Catholics and Christians belonging to other denomination churches came out solemnly for midnight mass - held in Mumbai between 8-10.30 p.m. - in view of the noise pollution restrictions.

Archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias celebrated the main mass at Holy Name Cathedral open ground in south Mumbai, the spokesman said.

Christian-dominated areas of Mumbai like Colaba, Mazagaon, Parel, Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, Marol, Vile Parle, Andheri, Malavani, Malad, Borivli, Kurla and Bhandup suburbs wore a festive look with lanterns and colourful fairy-lights, buntings, Christmas trees and other decorations.

Soon after the mass, Christians cheerfully greeted their near and dear ones with a Merry Christmas.

Similar mass were held in nearly 150 Catholic churches in Mumbai and another more than 50 churches in the Vasai Archdiocese of neighbouring Thane, besides churches in Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur and other districts.

There are over 1,000 churches belonging to various Christian denominations all over the state.