New Delhi: People across the national capital today celebrated Christmas with full fervour as thousands thronged churches and decked up cathedrals braving the winter chill Delhi tuned to a celebratory note with the yuletide spirit with people sporting santa caps dotting the busy market places.
The auspicious occasion was ushered in through midnight masses, resonance of carols and merriment with people greeting and participating in the festivities despite the chill in the weather.
As bells tolled, people thronged churches and cathedrals decorated with twinkling lights for the midnight service to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Stores stocking Xmas merchandise were inundated with shoppers as exchange of greetings and gifts, community feasts and colourful processions marked the occasion. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took part in the festivities by visiting the Sacred Heart Cathedral church and wishing merry Christmas to the people.
People used WhatsApp, Facebook and other online means of communication to send Christmas greetings to their families and loved ones.
The neighbourhoods of churches reverberated with traditional Christmas carols rendering the air festive with gospel bands enthralling the merry-makers with songs like ‘Jingle Bells', ‘Oh Holy Night' and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town'.
With air quality remaining relatively better due to strong wind movement across the city, the revelers enjoyed themselves to the hilt.
Real time readings of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) stations showed PM 2.5 hovering around the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre in most stations.
SAFAR's average air quality index was ‘very poor' while CPCB website, updated in the evening, had stations like Punjabi Bagh and Mandir Marg in the ‘poor' category. Heavy traffic was reported on areas like Ashoka Road, Kalibari Road and Baba Kharak Singh Marg. Traffic was heavy to the roads leading to shopping malls and popular market places of the city.
