Despite the looming terror threat, Mumbaikars Saturday celebrated the birth of Christ with gaiety and enthusiasm. Several worshippers not only prayed at churches across the city, but also decorated their houses with cribs and Christmas lights and stars. The Archbishop of Mumbai Trumpet Prom Dresses Oswald Gracias conducted the midnight mass at the Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba in south Mumbai Friday. Some churches started their mass as early as 8.30 p.m. Friday, and some took the liberty to start it after 10 p.m. in order to conduct the mass by midnight due to restriction on loud speakers. The Christmas morning brought an unusual cheer and enthusiasm as the children woke up to lovely gifts, followed by the attending of the Christmas morning service. Christians from all over Mumbai spent the day meeting friends and relatives and exchanging gifts and greetings. Families also arranged for special parties on the special day. Cake shops in the city also came up with new concepts for cakes and chocolates to attract customers. Cakes featuring Christmas trees and Santa Claus were a major hit. Malls in the city also arranged for special programs for the festival, and attracted children and adults alike. Special promotional offers and discounts were also offered. Christian pockets of Colaba, Byculla, Mazgaon, Mahim, Bandra, Malvani, Orlem, Borivli and Bhayander had practically turned into One Shoulder Prom Dresses celebration centres. Families were seen greeting each other and exchanging goodies. "We have made an eco-friendly crib only out of paper," said Gerson D'Costa, a resident of suburban Borivli. "Ours is locality where everyone comes together to celebrate all festivals. Interestingly, this idea was suggested by someone who is not a Christian," D'Costa added with pride. Several balls were also organised. Men were seen in their best suits, while women turned up in shimmering dresses and danced to the tunes of old and new songs, including carols. "I am looking forward to dancing till late night today," said Karen Fernandes from Bandra. Published by HT Syndication with permission from Indo-Asian News Service.

Christmas in Kolkata can't be Homecoming Dresses without an illuminated Park Street and a mad jostle to get into one of the famed restaurants at the city's entertainment hub. On Christmas eve, Park Street sprung to life with the customary illumination that brightened up the street and the thousands who thronged the thoroughfare to soak in the Christmas spirit. It hasn't been a particularly good year for the road, but on Friday, it braced for a happy and joyous end to the year.

Adding colour to the year-end festivities will be the Park Street Carnival that gets underway on Christmas. It will have a series of events including a climate poster competition for children between 10-14 years and an amateur band festival to be followed by a performance by the Police Band. Bands like Blue Mist and the Rock Band will then set the stage on fire at Allen Park. The show ends with a theatre by Stagecraft.

On December 26, the carnival will see a heritage walk on Park Street. It will be followed by a climate poster competition for children between 15-18 years. The evening starts with a quiz "Park Street: Know your city". The quiz is being conducted by ETHOS and will have eminent personalities like Vece Paes, Nondon Bagchi, Partha Das, Yezdi Dastur, Debangshu Mitter, Maina Bhagat, Ritu Bhagat, Pradip Gooptu and Barun Das taking part.

Restaurant-owners were happy with the turnout on Friday evening. "Prom Dresses 2012 had a fairly good crowd this evening. It should get better on Christmas and the crowd should remain throughout the week leading to the New Year. The good sign is that the footfall has been Short Prom Dresses higher this time than the last Christmas-eve," said Pratap Daryanani, owner of Oasis restaurant on Park Street.