The joy and warmth of Christmas filled the city on Thursday as large crowds gathered not only at churches but also across parks and public spaces to celebrate the festival.
From early morning prayers to evening festivities, the city resonated with hymns, laughter, and the spirit of togetherness.
At St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Bishop Louis Mascarenhas of the Allahabad Diocese led a special prayer service and read passages from the Bible.
Extending Christmas greetings to the people, he highlighted the message of faith, peace, and compassion.
After the morning prayers, the cathedral was opened for devotees to have darshan of the infant form of Jesus.
Throughout the day, young people and families visited the cathedral to admire the beautifully crafted and captivating tableaux depicting the birth of Christ.
Meanwhile, at Nazareth Hospital, its director, Fr. Vipi,n personally greeted visitors and patients, spreading festive cheer across the hospital premises and reminding everyone of the spirit of service associated with Christmas.
At the historic All Saints’ Cathedral, popularly known as the Patthar Girja, Bishop Morris Edgar Dan offered special prayers for peace in the country.
In his address, he urged people to serve the needy and to nurture harmony, love, and mutual respect within society.
Christmas messages were also delivered at St. Peter’s Church, where Pastor Praveen Massey addressed the congregation and distributed cakes among the faithful and young children.
At St. John’s Church, prayers led by Pastor Shashi Prakash were followed by performances of plays and devotional songs by members of the Christian community.
Similar scenes were witnessed at Jamuna, St. Paul, Katra, and other churches, where families gathered to sing Christmas carols together.
After 11 a.m., churches across the city saw a steady influx of youth, women, and children, all eager to witness the infant Jesus and the festive displays.
The celebratory mood soon spilled beyond church walls.
With the sun shining brightly by mid-morning, popular public spaces such as Anand Bhavan, Chandrashekhar Azad Park, Khusro Bagh, Hathi Park, and Bhardwaj Park were thronged by residents enjoying picnics and leisure time with family and friends.
The parks remained lively till evening, while food stalls outside did brisk business, adding to the festive buzz.
Adding further colour to the celebrations, the Lucknow Diocesan Trust Association organised a Christmas Carnival on Sarojini Naidu Marg.
The fair remained crowded till late evening, with people soaking in the festive atmosphere, music, and celebrations that truly captured the joy of Christmas.
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