Christians in Kerala today celebrated Christmas with traditional gaiety and fervour rejoicing the birth of Jesus Christ.
People thronged Churches in large numbers for midnight masses and special prayers. Churches, irrespective of denominations, were decorated with X'mas trees, stars and other illuminations.
Most Christian houses, both in towns and villages, had been decked up with decorative stars and cribs days before the festival. Carol singers, commemorating the birth of Christ, were doing the rounds for some weeks across the state.
Hotels in the state also joined the festive mood offering special Christmas lunch and buffet dinners at special rates.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan extended Christmas greetings to the people.
Chandy, in his greetings, hoped that the festival would bring peace and harmony to all people in the state.
Christian community in Kerala comprises about 24 per cent of the state's 3.2 crore population.
