Photos: Prevailing tension fails to dampen the fervour of Christmas celebrations

In spite of the violence and turmoil that ensued in the country post the violent crackdown of police personnel on students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, Christmas is being celebrated with much fanfare across India. However, Kashmir witnessed a decline in the number of tourists visiting the valley for Christmas. In the rest of the country, people attended the midnight mass on Christmas Eve, sang carols, lit candles and prayed for peace and harmony.

Updated on: Dec 25, 2019 8:05 PM IST

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A man dressed as Santa Claus distributes candies to paramilitary soldiers outside the Holy Family Catholic church on Christmas in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The miniscule Christian population of Kashmir celebrated Christmas with traditional enthusiasm and religious fervour as the devotees thronged churches for mass as special prayers were held for peace in the Valley. (Mukhtar Khan / AP)

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People light candles on the eve of Christmas at Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in New Delhi. People braved the biting cold and continued air pollution in the city to participate in the festivities. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Actor J. Brandon Hill dressed up as Santa Claus and distributed presents to the children of sex workers on the occasion of Christmas, at Byculla in Mumbai, Maharashtra. (Bhushan Koyande / HT Photo)

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A man and a child dressed as Santa Claus undergo security checks during Christmas celebrations in Chandigarh. (Ajay Verma / REUTERS)

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The Church of Epiphany, the oldest church of Gurugram, decorated with lights on Christmas Eve, at Civil Lines, near Mor Chowk, in Gurugram, Haryana. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)

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Worshippers walk towards the Holy Family Catholic church on Christmas Eve in Srinagar. (Mukhtar Khan / AP)

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Well-known kite maker Jagmohan Kanojia seen holding his kites on Christmas Eve in Amritsar, Punjab. (Sameer Sehgal / HT Photo)

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Children colour Christmas trees during an event organised by an NGO in an orphanage on the Christmas Eve, at Sector 92 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. (Sunil Ghosh / HT Photo)

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A girl is presented a figure of baby Jesus at a church during Christmas celebrations in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (Amit Dave / REUTERS)

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A priest holds a chalice and the Eucharist at a prayer session inside a church during Christmas celebrations in Kolkata, West Bengal. (Rupak De Chowdhuri / REUTERS)

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A worshipper receives holy communion inside a church during Christmas celebrations in Agartala. (Jayanta Dey / REUTERS)

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People offer prayers at Saint Mary's Garrison church on the occasion of Christmas in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. (Channi Anand / AP)