PM Modi attends Christmas service at Delhi church, greets citizens

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi along with a large congregation of Christians of Delhi and north India. The service included prayers, carols, hymns and a special prayer for the prime minister by Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup, the Bishop of Delhi. "The service reflected the timeless message of love, peace and compassion. May the spirit of Christmas inspire harmony and goodwill in our society," Modi said in a post on X.Over the last few years, PM Modi has been regularly attending programmes connected with the Christian community.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption on the occasion of Christmas pic.twitter.com/086Pab0tLO

— IANS (@ians_india) December 25, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modihave extended warm greetings and best wishes to the nation on the occasion of Christmas, highlighting the festival’s message of love, compassion, peace and harmony. President Murmu took to social media ‘X’ and said, “MERRY CHRISTMAS. Christmas, the festival of joy enthusiasm, conveys the message of love and compassion. It reminds us of the sacrifice made by Lord Jesus Christ for the welfare of humanity. This sacred occasion inspires us to further strengthen the values of peace, harmony, equality, and service in the society,” the President added.

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan also greeted people on Christmas. "Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas, overflowing with hope, love, and kindness. May Christ's message inspire us to build stronger, more caring communities, and may his teachings strengthen our bonds and promote lasting peace," he wrote on X.

The prime minister greeted citizens on Christmas. "Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas filled with peace, compassion and hope. May the teachings of Jesus Christ strengthen harmony in our society," he said in another post on X.

Observed every year on December 25, Christmas marks the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ and is associated with themes of hope, peace, forgiveness and love. While it is primarily a Christian religious festival, its universal message has made it a global celebration embraced by people from diverse backgrounds. Christmas reflects a blend of Christian beliefs and ancient winter traditions. Although the Bible does not specify the exact date of Jesus’ birth, early Christians chose December 25 to align with existing winter festivals. In ancient Rome, celebrations such as Saturnalia were held around the winter solstice, featuring feasting, gift-giving and joyful gatherings.

By the 4th century, Christmas was formally recognised as a Christian festival. As it spread across Europe and later to other parts of the world, local customs merged with religious practices. Traditions like decorating evergreen trees, exchanging gifts, singing carols and celebrating with family gradually became integral to Christmas festivities.