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Photos | Christmas 2018: Festivities and prayers for tsunami struck Indonesia

All around the world people are celebrating Christmas with fervour, traditional gaiety and enthusiasm to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Bishops and priests led the faithful at the Midnight Mass in cathedrals and churches as bells tolled, signaling the moment of nativity of Christ. People in new clothes thronged at their parishes for special prayers and exchanged greetings and pleasantries. An occasion of joy, in Indonesia Christmas was markedly somber this year, with prayers for the tsunami victims on the minds of churchgoers.

Updated on: Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM IST

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1/15

A festive spirit marked Christmas celebrations across the world with thousands of people visiting churches and offering prayers with some last-minute shopping thrown in the mix. Seen here is a man dressed as Santa Claus holding a flare on a boat during Christmas Eve celebrations in Imperia, Italy. (Antonio Calanni / AP photo)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

A festive spirit marked Christmas celebrations across the world with thousands of people visiting churches and offering prayers with some last-minute shopping thrown in the mix. Seen here is a man dressed as Santa Claus holding a flare on a boat during Christmas Eve celebrations in Imperia, Italy. (Antonio Calanni / AP photo)

2/15

While leading a service in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Francis condemned the huge divide between the world’s rich and poor, saying Jesus’ birth in poverty in a stable should make everyone reflect on the meaning of life. He also called on people in developed countries to live simpler and less materialistic lives. (Max Rossi / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

While leading a service in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Francis condemned the huge divide between the world’s rich and poor, saying Jesus’ birth in poverty in a stable should make everyone reflect on the meaning of life. He also called on people in developed countries to live simpler and less materialistic lives. (Max Rossi / REUTERS)

3/15

Butchers hold up cuts of meat during a Christmas Eve auction in Smithfield market in London, England. Hoards of punters gathered to bid on last-minute meats for their Christmas meal at the 150-year-old open-air auction. (Hannah McKay / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

Butchers hold up cuts of meat during a Christmas Eve auction in Smithfield market in London, England. Hoards of punters gathered to bid on last-minute meats for their Christmas meal at the 150-year-old open-air auction. (Hannah McKay / REUTERS)

4/15

On the eve of Christmas, Sacred Heart Cathedral was decorated with lights, in New Delhi, India. This cathedral is one of the oldest church buildings in the city. Decked up churches in different cities across the country were thronged on Christmas Eve by attendees of the midnight mass. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

On the eve of Christmas, Sacred Heart Cathedral was decorated with lights, in New Delhi, India. This cathedral is one of the oldest church buildings in the city. Decked up churches in different cities across the country were thronged on Christmas Eve by attendees of the midnight mass. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

5/15

People dressed as Father Frost and Snow Maiden take part in a march on Christmas Eve in centre of Minsk, in Belarus. (Vasily Fedosenko / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

People dressed as Father Frost and Snow Maiden take part in a march on Christmas Eve in centre of Minsk, in Belarus. (Vasily Fedosenko / REUTERS)

6/15

Christians hold candles as they attend a mass on Christmas Eve at Immanuel Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Christmas holiday in Indonesia is sombre this year, with prayers for the tsunami victims who were hit by waves that struck without warning on Saturday. Church leaders called on Christians across the country to pray for victims of the tsunami. (Dhemas Reviyanto/ Antara Foto / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

Christians hold candles as they attend a mass on Christmas Eve at Immanuel Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Christmas holiday in Indonesia is sombre this year, with prayers for the tsunami victims who were hit by waves that struck without warning on Saturday. Church leaders called on Christians across the country to pray for victims of the tsunami. (Dhemas Reviyanto/ Antara Foto / REUTERS)

7/15

St Joseph’s Church at Juhu, in Mumbai, India is lit up on the eve of Christmas. Mumbai’s Christian community is spread across the island city and suburbs. some churches are almost 450 years old. On Christmas, most churches weave in a social or news theme with messages of peace, simplicity and a charitable spirit. Shop windows are dressed in the festive red and green and tree ornaments in street markets abound. (Shashi S Kashyap / HT Photo)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

St Joseph’s Church at Juhu, in Mumbai, India is lit up on the eve of Christmas. Mumbai’s Christian community is spread across the island city and suburbs. some churches are almost 450 years old. On Christmas, most churches weave in a social or news theme with messages of peace, simplicity and a charitable spirit. Shop windows are dressed in the festive red and green and tree ornaments in street markets abound. (Shashi S Kashyap / HT Photo)

8/15

Worshippers light candles as they attend Christmas Mass at the Saint Antuan Church in Istanbul, Turkey on Christmas Eve. (Yasin Akgul / AFP)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

Worshippers light candles as they attend Christmas Mass at the Saint Antuan Church in Istanbul, Turkey on Christmas Eve. (Yasin Akgul / AFP)

9/15

In Delhi, much of the festival food for Christmas is inspired by what’s prepared for other festivals across north India. People flock to Sadar Bazar for Christmas shopping, where there are rows of shops with every kind of Christmas tree imaginable. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

In Delhi, much of the festival food for Christmas is inspired by what’s prepared for other festivals across north India. People flock to Sadar Bazar for Christmas shopping, where there are rows of shops with every kind of Christmas tree imaginable. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

10/15

Children walk past Christmas lanterns known locally as ‘parol’ along a street in Manila, Philippines. The star-shaped lanterns patterned to resemble the Star of Bethlehem are made from bamboo covered with paper. They are displayed in houses, offices, buildings, and streets, and according to Filipino tradition, represent the victory of light over darkness. (Maria Tan / AFP)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

Children walk past Christmas lanterns known locally as ‘parol’ along a street in Manila, Philippines. The star-shaped lanterns patterned to resemble the Star of Bethlehem are made from bamboo covered with paper. They are displayed in houses, offices, buildings, and streets, and according to Filipino tradition, represent the victory of light over darkness. (Maria Tan / AFP)

11/15

Acolytes attend a mass at Xishiku Cathedral, also known as the North Cathedral, on Christmas Eve in Beijing, China. At least four Chinese cities and one county have ordered Christmas decorations banned this year, amid a growing emphasis on traditional culture by the ruling Communist Party. (Jason Lee / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

Acolytes attend a mass at Xishiku Cathedral, also known as the North Cathedral, on Christmas Eve in Beijing, China. At least four Chinese cities and one county have ordered Christmas decorations banned this year, amid a growing emphasis on traditional culture by the ruling Communist Party. (Jason Lee / REUTERS)

12/15

A shop is illuminated at Park Street in Kolkata, India. Park Street is the go-to place for the celebrations in the city. St. Paul’s Cathedral, the grandest church in the city, is near Park Street, where devotees attend the midnight mass. Wearing their choicest attire, devotees sung carols and read the story of Jesus Christ’s birth from the Bible in various cities. (Samir Jana / HT photo)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

A shop is illuminated at Park Street in Kolkata, India. Park Street is the go-to place for the celebrations in the city. St. Paul’s Cathedral, the grandest church in the city, is near Park Street, where devotees attend the midnight mass. Wearing their choicest attire, devotees sung carols and read the story of Jesus Christ’s birth from the Bible in various cities. (Samir Jana / HT photo)

13/15

A boy plays on a trampoline in the Christmas Lunapark in Limassol, Cyprus. (Yiannis Kourtoglou / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

A boy plays on a trampoline in the Christmas Lunapark in Limassol, Cyprus. (Yiannis Kourtoglou / REUTERS)

14/15

Children extinguish candles after carrying them during the recessional during a Christmas Eve service at Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack, New York. (Mike Segar / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

Children extinguish candles after carrying them during the recessional during a Christmas Eve service at Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack, New York. (Mike Segar / REUTERS)

15/15

An altar boy holds a cross before the Christmas Eve mass at the Notre Dame de Kinshasa cathedral in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. This Christmas, the atmosphere in the country is more uneasy than festive as frustrated citizens wonder if a postponed presidential vote will take place as promised on December 30. (Baz Ratner / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 25, 2018 2:34 PM

An altar boy holds a cross before the Christmas Eve mass at the Notre Dame de Kinshasa cathedral in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. This Christmas, the atmosphere in the country is more uneasy than festive as frustrated citizens wonder if a postponed presidential vote will take place as promised on December 30. (Baz Ratner / REUTERS)

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