Tue Dec 24 18:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Udaipur’s Christian Community Celebrates Christmas with Midnight Mass and Festive Cheer
**Udaipur, India:** The Christian community in Udaipur celebrated Christmas with fervor, marking the occasion with midnight mass services and festive gatherings across the city. On Christmas Eve, churches and homes were adorned with nativity scenes and cribs, many crafted from hay and cotton. Midnight mass services, featuring collective prayer and joyous anticipation of Jesus’ birth, were held in 19 churches throughout Udaipur and surrounding areas.
The celebrations involved candle-lighting ceremonies, carol singing, and the traditional exchange of greetings and cake. The largest service was held at the Shepherd Memorial Church (Chetak Circle), with the main Christmas service scheduled for Wednesday morning at 10 am, led by Rev. Sunny S. Kumar. Other notable churches included Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral Church in Aliapura and several others across the city.
An estimated 7,000 Christians reside in the Udaipur district, with each church maintaining records of its congregation. Celebrations extended beyond the city limits to villages including Pai, Jhaḍol, and others. Festivities are expected to continue into the first week of January, including church and family-level events and visits to the homes of bereaved families to offer prayers and condolences. Various sporting, religious, and literary competitions are also planned in accordance with national and state-level organizational guidelines.
The Shepherd Memorial Church, established on July 5, 1891, holds a significant place in the city’s history, celebrating its 124th anniversary of its first service this year. Built under the direction of engineer Thomson Campbell, who also oversaw the construction of Fateh Sagar Lake and other landmarks, it stands as Udaipur’s oldest church.
First Piper 