Kochi: Rejoicing the birth of Jesus Christ, Keralites Sunday celebrated Christmas with traditional fervor and piety with faithful thronging churches for special prayers and mass.
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As church bells tolled signaling the moment of nativity, the faithful congregated for the midnight service in cathedrals and churches across the state where senior bishops and priests conducted special masses and gave out the Christmas message.
While Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis led the midnight mass at the St Mary's Cathedral of Syro Malankara Catholic Church in the state capital, Cardinal Mar George Alanchery of Syro Malabar Catholic Church conducted the service in Kochi and gave out the Christmas message.
The festival was also celebrated with much fanfare in churches in north Malabar region of the state. Churches and homes were tastefully decked up with cribs depicting the birth-in-the manger scene and stars twinkling on Christmas trees.
A 100-feet tall Santa has been put up nearby Neyyatinkara as part of Christmas celebrations.
The state has been in the grip of festive mood for the last several days.
Carol groups of churches and art clubs have been busy visiting houses singing traditional Christmas songs.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and governor P Sathasivam greeted the people on the festive day.
(With agency inputs)
