Churches wear a festive look as the devout offer special prayers marking Christmas

Governor participates in celebrations at Raj Bhavan, says people need to practice Jesus Christ’s message of peace, harmony and universal brotherhood

Bursting with holiday cheer, churches in the city wore a festive look on Sunday with a large number of Christians flocking them to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Dazzling Christmas lights brightened up the places of worship that saw huge attendance of the devout at the midnight mass preceding the actual celebrations.

The illuminated St. Paul’s Cathedral, near Benz Circle, the Mary Matha shrine at Gunadala, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on the Eluru Road, among other churches, were chock-a-block with people offering special prayers on the special occasion.

Leaders of various political parties and representatives of the government extended Christmas wishes to people belonging to the community.

Participating in the celebrations at Raj Bhavan, Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said Christ gave the mankind the message of peace, harmony and universal brotherhood, and “this is what all of us need to practice in our lives.”

He said, to be truly happy, one must rise above bigotry and jealously, and must love even those who hate them, as love is the only path to peace and happiness.

“When we replace hate with love and anger with kindness, we will feel closer to God and will experience peace in our own lives,” he said.