With a bright sun keeping the winter chill at bay, Delhiites celebrated Christmas with great fervor and spirit, exchanging greetings and gifts with friends and relatives.

People decorated their homes with Christmas trees, lights and gifts to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas marks the birth of Jesus and when he was born the angels cried out 'peace and harmony for all', and so the festival of Christmas is celebrated by all.

The markets and shopping malls in the capital were flooded with Santa Clauses of all shapes and sizes. Another item that was selling like hot cakes was hi-tech Christmas trees embellished with bells, peppermint sticks, lights and stars, and if that's not all, the trees even started singing programmed carols at the press of a button. Also on sale were talking Santa Clauses that even sang popular Bollywood numbers.

While the devout have been praying at most churches, it was the time to party for some, with the New Year round the corner. ITC Maurya Sheraton, one of the capital's renowned five star hotels, has this year made a Christmas tree - Tree of Light - designed on Braille paper and embellished with leather cut-outs of mythological figures.

One of the most lasting images of Christmas is that of Santa Claus, a portly, fictitious character who is a hit with everyone because he comes loaded with a bag full of goodies. The Delhi branch of HelpAge India showed this year that Santa does exist by giving away 500 sleeping bags to the homeless in Delhi's Chandni Chowk area. It was indeed a Merry Christmas for these people.