Chennai, Dec 25 (UNI) Christmas, the festival marking the birth of
Jesus Christ, was celebrated with religious fervour, traditional gaiety
and enthusiasm by the Christians in Tamil Nadu today.
As church bells tolled signalling the moment of Nativity, faithfuls
converged for the midnight mass in cathedrals and churches as
senior bishops and priests delivered the Christmas message.
Midnight and early morning masses were conducted in all the
churches in which faithfuls participated.
Christians attired in new clothes thronged the churches for special
masses and exchanged greetings with others across the state.
All the churches were tastefully decorated and illuminated to mark
the occasion.
X-mas trees of various hues and sizes dotted various shopping malls,
churches and residential associations and at individual homes across
the state.
The largest congregation was held at the Santhome Basilica in the city.
Special prayers and midnight mass were also held in various churches
in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Tiruchy, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, and
Pudukkottai districts.
A midnight mass was conducted at the historic Punitha Arokia Matha
(Velankanni Maadha) Church (Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health)
at Velankanni in Nagapattinam district, in which a large number of
devotees and pilgrims took part.
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK
General Secretary and Opposition Leader Edappadi K Palaniswami,
ousted AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran,
also founder of AMMK, and leaders of various political parties,
including allies of the ruling DMK, greeted the christians on the
occasion.
X-mas celebrated in TN with religious fervour
