In pics: Christmas celebrations in India

Updated: Tuesday, December 24, 2013, 17:57 [IST]

New Delhi, Dec 24: As the Christmas festival is celebrated with pomp, gaiety and devotion across the nation and globally on the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we take a look at how the much-awaited festival of joy and happiness is celebrated in India's various states.

The Christmas celebrations are marked by singing carols, distributing cakes, chocolates, sweets, lighting candles, decorating beautiful Christmas trees and by receiving and giving gifts to the near and dear ones.

In many offices, the last week of December from Christmas till the New Year are celebrated by organising various kinds of contests like theme-based bay decorations, treasure hunt, pot luck competitions and secret santas, among many other exciting ideas.

On Christmas eve, not only Christians go to the Churches to worship the Jesus Christ but people from other religions also visit churches to mark the celebrations.

From malls to markets and from offices to homes, Christmas decorations make the mood of people into a cheerful one.

In North India, Christmas is also referred as "Badaa Din" (Big Day).

Here let's take a look at how the Christmas festival is being celebrated in various Indian states:

In Allahabad

Hindu devotees dressed in Santa Claus attire, offer traditional oil lamp aarti after taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam ahead of Christmas festival in Allahabad on Tuesday.