Capital celebrates Christmas with pomp and gaiety

Christmas was celebrated across the national capital on Thursday with prayers being offered for the country’s “well-being” as well as the victims of the December 16 Peshawar school attack. After the prayers, plum and fruit cakes were exchanged between friends and families while alms were distributed to the poor. Braving the winter chill, hundreds thronged decked-up churches across the city since morning to offer their prayers and light candles. The Sacred Heart Cathedral near Connaught Place was decorated with colourful lights, cardboard stars that were lit up in bright colours of red yellow and green and at the entrance was huge Christmas tree decorated with bells, mistletoes, multi-coloured balls and ribbons. Meanwhile, strict security arrangements had been put in place by Delhi Police following a suspected arson attack on a church in Dilshad Garden earlier this month. According to a police officer, around eight to 10 police personnel were deployed outside each church in the city since Wednesday evening pics/PTI.