Tirupati: Christmas celebrations were marked by gaiety and religious fervour across Tirupati, Nellore and Prakasam districts on Monday.
Churches across the region were decked up with lights and other decorations. Special midnight mass prayers and celebrations were held in churches at midnight Sunday, and churches were filled to the brim with the faithful.
Agriculture minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy participated in the celebrations organised at the Velankanni Matha Church in Koduru village. He offered prayers, cut the Christmas cake and conveyed seasonal greetings to the people.
The faithful dressed in their festive best thronged churches and exchanged greetings. Celebrations were held at prominent churches such as the St. Anthony Church, Vianney Home and American Baptist Church, among others.
In Tirupati, people from different faiths celebrated Christmas. Churches in the city were tastefully decorated with lights and stars. At the stroke of midnight, church bells rang on Christmas as Christians across Tirupati started celebrating the event by attending special mass prayers.
Grand midnight mass services were held at major churches such as the Jaganmata Cathedral in Khadi colony, West Church, St Peter’s Lutheran Church. Thousands attended the midnight prayer service at the Jaganmata Cathedral, the biggest church in Tirupati.
The Christmas celebrations across the city were marked by prayer services, cultural programmes and exchange of greetings and sweets.
In Ongole, the faithful gathered at churches like the JMB Church for the midnight mass. Cultural events were also held and priests delivered religious discourses. The faithful also cut cakes and distributed them among each other, embracing the festive spirit.
