Braving the winter chill, people congregated at churches in large numbers to usher in Christmas here on Monday night.
Carols were sung and midnight mass was held at several places of worship, which were specially decorated for the festive occasion. People dressed in their festival best attended the candlelight services and special mass at the churches with fervour and enthusiasm and exchanged festival greetings. The celebrations continued late into the night and will be on throughout Tuesday.
One of the biggest congregations of the night was at St. Mary’s Church in Secunderabad, which was awarded the ‘Minor Basilica’ decree by The Vatican recently.
Gatherings at other churches, including the Baptist Church at Narayanguda, the St. Andrew’s Church in Marredpally and the St. Gregarious Church, were also impressive. Leaders of the community delivered special messages.
