Merry Christmas Wishes Highlights: PM Modi greets people; Delhi experiences heavy traffic

Merry Christmas LIVE: Heavy traffic was reported at several locations across the national capital on Wednesday as people thronged the markets for Christmas celebrations. East Delhi’s Vikas Marg near V3S Mall, South Delhi’s Saket, and Northwest Delhi’s GT Karnal Road were among the most affected.

Merry Christmas LIVE: Wild Voices choir sang the national anthem at Afghan Church in Mumbai. The video has gained over 80,000 views on X

Merry Christmas LIVE: Its holiday season in the US, and most restaurants, stores are usually closed. However, some facilities also remain open. Here's a complete list

Merry Christmas LIVE: People dressed in traditional national attire sing carols to celebrate Christmas near St. Michael Monastery in the city center of Kyiv, Ukraine.

Merry Christmas LIVE: The Christian community in Jammu and Kashmir celebrated Christmas on Wednesday with great religious fervour, as devotees, including tourists, gathered for special prayers. Churches across the valley were beautifully decorated with colorful lights, and balloons, creating a festive atmosphere.

Merry Christmas LIVE: BJP president and Union minister J.P. Nadda visited the headquarters of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India and the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church. He also posted Christmas wishes on X

Merry Christmas LIVE: Footfall across all UK retail destinations increased by 31% up until noon on Tuesday, compared to Christmas Eve last year, even though it was a Sunday.

Merry Christmas LIVE: Catholic clergy walk in procession before the Christmas morning Mass at the Chapel of Saint Catherine, which is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. It is located in the West Bank city of Bethlehem

Jennifer Aniston has shared a glimpse of her Christmas celebrations with her fans, giving them an inside look at her beautifully decorated home.

Did Prince Harry secretly attend Kate Middleton’s Christmas show trailer? Many did spot someone like him. Was that really the Duke of Sussex? Read on.

A surprising moment in the preview of Kate Middleton’s Together at Christmas show caught the attention of social media users when a man resembling Prince Harry appeared in the trailer. The show, hosted annually by the Princess of Wales, will air on Christmas Eve on ITV in the UK

Several movies and web series were released on OTT this weekend-- December 20-22--making them perfect for a weekend binge-watch. Movies like Singham Again, Gladiator II, Squid Game Season 2, ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chief's Clothing, Doctor Who - Joy to the World are some of the latest movies and series to watch this holiday season

Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma took some time off their busy schedule to spend a little time together as the star couple went for a stroll in the city before having a hearty breakfast in Melbourne

Union Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda says, "I wish the countrymen a Merry Christmas... Today, I prayed for the well-being of people of all communities. Along with this, the country should move forward with the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas and the country should develop..."

Religious fervour and gaiety marked Christmas celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya with special prayers being held at a church.

Taking to X, CM wrote, “Merry Christmas! May your day be overflowing with joy, love and happiness.”

Odisha Governor Ragubar Das greeted people on the occasion of Christmas.

In a message, the governor said that Christmas is a festival of peace, harmony and humanism.

"On this occasion, I extend my heartiest greetings and wishes to all the people of Odisha, especially the Christian brothers and sisters," Das said.

Bengaluru traffic police have issued an advisory for commuters on Wednesday, December 25, during the Christmas celebration. The metro city is likely to witness road blockage on key routes as people will visit popular and iconic churches today.

In the wake of Christmas celebration today, traffic police have placed restrictions on certain routes, and identified alternative routes in its advisory.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar extended warm wishes to all citizens on Christmas, highlighting the festival's universal message of hope, compassion, and solidarity on Wednesday.

In a post on X, VP Dhankhar mentioned, "Warm greetings to all on Christmas. May this joyous occasion illuminate homes across our nation with warmth, love, and harmony. Let the message of peace and goodwill that brings guide us in our journey toward a stronger nation."

Pushkar Dhami extended his greetings to the people of the state, particularly the Christian community, on the occasion of Christmas.

In his message, CM Dhami said that this festival of Christmas gives us the message to follow ideals like service, sacrifice, love and compassion. He added that the festival is a celebration of mutual brotherhood and sharing happiness.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K.Annamalai attends Christmas service at Annai Velankanni Church in Chennai

Taking to X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. May the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ show everyone the path of peace and prosperity.” 

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will be closed for trading on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, in observance of Christmas. No trading or settlement activities will occur in the stocks, derivatives, or securities lending and borrowing (SLB) segments on December 25. Furthermore, currency and commodity markets, including the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) and the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), will be closed for the entire day, suspending both morning and evening trading sessions.

Trading will resume on Thursday, December 26, 2024.

The Delhi Police made special traffic arrangements for commuters on Wednesday, in view of the rush expected at malls during Christmas celebrations. It said traffic will be diverted on stretches according to the need.

The Met department has predicted a further dip in minimum temperature by two to three degrees in the next couple of days till December 26.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' -- considered the harshest period of winter -- which started on December 21.

People gather for the midnight mass prayers at Sacred Heart Basilica Church on the occasion of Christmas.

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: Several Indian cities were adorned with beautiful lights decoration to mark the Christmas celebration. Churches and markets were illuminated with vibrant lights, sparkling stars, and beautifully arranged Christmas cribs a day before the main holiday.

Shimla witnessed a wave of disappointment among tourists on Christmas Eve when the much-anticipated midnight prayers at Christ Church were unexpectedly cancelled on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported.

Visitors who had gathered at the iconic church on Mall Road to attend or witness the prayers were left dismayed when, as the clock struck 12, the service did not begin. Many had specifically planned their trips to Shimla to attend this event.

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 's list of bank holidays, banks will be closed across the country on Wednesday, 25 December,on the festive occasion of Christmas

-May your Christmas sparkle like the star on top of the tree, and you remain happy throughout the year. Happy Christmas!

-May your day remain as sweet as a candy cane, and as magical as a snowy winter’s night. Merry Christmas!

-This Christmas, may your home be filled with laughter, and your heart with love. Merry Christmas my friend!

-May your life remain filled with blessings that last all year round. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday!

-Deck the halls with happiness and fill your stockings with dreams come true! Santa Claus will bring you the best gift of your life to celebrate the festival with full spirit.

-May this Christmas be a celebration of love and light for you and your family. Merry Christmas!

-Let the spirit of Christmas guide your heart to kindness, your mind to peace, and your soul to joy. Happy Christmas!

-May you find beauty and blessings in every moment of this magical season. Merry Christmas!

Melbourne is decked up beautifully on the occasion of Christmas Eve on Tuesday, with hubbub and razzmatazz in the Christmas Square.

A visitor, Evade Hemi, said he was giving out free lights on the occasion. "I'm wishing you guys all a Merry Christmas. We're celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, giving out free lights. Everybody, I wish you a Merry Christmas and sending love to everyone out there. God bless you," he told ANI.

Another visitor, James said that celebrating Christmas with family is the best way to do it. "I wish you guys a Merry Christmas. With family, as always with family, that's the best way to celebrate it," he said.

"Winter Carnival Manali was also being organized on a large scale by the Government. Such carnivals and festivals depict the rich culture and traditions of the State. Government is making earnest efforts to harness the tourism potential of the State so that more and more tourists are attracted towards the State, thereby, it could become a most favoured tourist destination," said Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

“As we step into 2025, let us work together towards building a healthier, more informed, and progressive Manipur,” Singh said in a post on X.

King Charles III is expected to use his annual Christmas message to highlight health workers, at the end of a year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer. This is the king's third Christmas speech since he ascended the throne after the queen died in September 2022. It is the first since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February.

The King's speech will be broadcast in the afternoon on Christmas Day, was recorded at Fitzrovia Chapel in London, which was part of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital where his first wife, Diana, opened London's first dedicated ward for those with AIDS. “I assume that this space, being one of calm reflection, but also thinking about health, about care, about the medical profession, would make it a pretty apt choice,” said Carla Whalen, chair of the Fitzrovia Chapel Foundation's board of trustees.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Christmas was a celebration of hope, love and togetherness and wished the people on the festival.

The CM participated at a midnight mass at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary in the central part of the city's Burrabazar area.  "Christmas is a celebration of hope, love, and togetherness. In this magical season, all differences fade away as we come together to embrace the spirit of unity and brotherhood," Banerjee posted on X.

Protests erupted in Syria after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the town of Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority area in central Syria, a report by BBC said.

Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem have been called off for another year due to "deep sadness and sorrow" caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, BBC has reported.

Bethlehem is an important center in the history of Christianity, but Christians make up only a small percentage of the roughly 14 million people spread across the Holy Land. There are about 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department.

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: On the eve of Merry Christmas, people thronged the  Nexus Select City Walk  mall in Saket in Delhi. Several other malls were also decked up, and drew significant crowds.

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: On Christmas Eve, people in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh flocked to the markets for Christmas shopping, eager to buy festive items, reported PTI

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: Bethlehem, Lord Jesus's birth place which is located in the West Bank of Palestine, saw subdued Christmas celebratins due to the ongoing war in Gaza. The festive lights and the giant tree that typically adorn Manger Square were absent, as were the crowds of foreign tourists who usually fill the square.

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer expressed hope for “peace, particularly in the Middle East," ahead of Christmas. He said he would be looking towards a ‘better, brighter future’.

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he deeply appreciates the support from ‘Christian friends’ from around the world, as Israel continues to fight a war.

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: Legendary footballer Christiano Ronaldo took to X to wish his fans a Merry Christmas. The photo shows him standing against a snowy backdrop

Merry Christmas 2024 LIVE: Christians gather at Mount Mary Church on Christmas Eve