Thiruvananthapuram: Rejoicing the birth of Jesus Christ, Keralites Sunday celebrated Christmas with traditional fervour and piety with faithful thronging churches for special prayers and mass.
As church bells tolled signalling the moment of Nativity, faithful converged for the Midnight mass in cathedrals and churches as senior bishops and priests delivered the Christmas message.
While Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis led the midnight mass at the St Mary's Cathedral of Syro Malankara Catholic Church in the state capital, Cardinal Mar George Alanchery of Syro Malabar Catholic Church conducted the service in Kochi and gave out the Christmas message.
Christians account for nearly one-fourth of the population in the state.
The festival was also celebrated with much fanfare in churches in norther Malabar region of the state.
Churches and homes were tastefully decked up with cribs depicting the birth-in-the manger scene and stars twinkling on Christmas trees.
Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan greeted the people on the occasion of Christmas.
A 100 feet tall Santa has been put up at nearby Neyyatinkara as part of Christmas celebrations.
Bakeries and cake stalls across the state witnessed heavy rush.