Pune churches ready to welcome Christmas with joy & enthusiasm

As churches get decorated in the grand tradition of hosting the midnight Mass on Sunday, there’s a sense of excitement and cheer in the air, along with a slight chill before Christmas eve.

Many churches would start the service at 11.30 pm, but some would hold Mass at 10 pm.

As night fell, carol singers were supposed to take centre stage and greet Christmas with a variety of tunes, including “Joy to the world” and “Silent night.” Numerous churches displayed the nativity scene, dazzling with pastel ribbons fluttering in a slight breeze, dazzling Christmas trees, and exquisite lighting.

All Saints Church in Khadki was scheduled to open for services at 10.30 p.m. with a lavish carol singing performance. Devotees would swarm God’s dwelling in the 150-year-old church, and on Christmas Day, Mass would start at nine in the morning.

As Christmas Eve approached, a number of churches also initiated donation drives and prepared early for the festivities. Prior to the celebration, a large number of impoverished people received gifts and everyday necessities from The Society of the Church of Holy Name, which was founded in 1868.

According to an official of The Society of the Church of Holy Name, everyone is welcome to attend the festival. Everyone is happy when they experience it. The church hosts a midnight Mass every year, which is attended by about 1,500 people and is one of the most amazing events. Since he was a young child, he has been coming, and things still go according to custom. The tower’s bells hold the magic!

To commemorate Jesus’ birth, the church’s eight bells chime at midnight.

The official from the Society of the Church of Holy Name went on to say that it continues to be the annual highlight. This is one of the rare occasions when the bells are rung! On December 25, the church is open for prayers in the evening after the mass ends at 1:30 a.m. Regardless of the religion they practice, everyone who sees the lit-up church finds it delightful.

At midnight Mass, at least 4,000 devotees were expected to gather at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Prince of Wales Road. With carol singing lasting until 10.30 p.m., the mass would begin at 10 p.m. It would conclude just after midnight. In an effort to bring joy to the city, the cathedral organized a carol-singing Christmas float that travelled through Magarpatta and Ramtekdi. The main feature of the Mass would be a crib containing a baby Jesus, making it a straightforward celebration of the holiday.