In pictures: Faithfuls pray on Christmas, revellers enjoy cloudy day out in and around Kolkata

People gathered at St Thomas Church for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve on Tuesday

(Top) An illuminated St Olav’s Church at Serampore in Hooghly district on Wednesday and (above) faithfuls light candles on the campus of St Paul’s Cathedral

Christmas Mass and vibes at the Roman Catholic Church in RC Para and St John’s Church in Krishnanagar, Nadia district

Christmas prayers at Bandel Church in Hooghly district on Wednesday

Christmas Day revellers made the most of their visit to the Seven Wonders of the World section of Eco Park at New Town

Devotees gather at St Paul’s Church, Kabardanga, to offer prayers to the Lord. Thereafter, they enjoyed a vibrant Xmas fair organised by the church

A family surrounding a toddler and cutting a Christmas cake on the lawns of Harinalaya Mini Zoo captured the essence and spirit of the festival and why the park commands such popularity

People enjoy horse cart ride and other rides in and around the Maidan

At Princeton Club on Prince Anwar Shah Road, children dressed as little Santas enjoyed a magical day, complete with a visit from Father Christmas and a captivating exhibition and (right) Santa Claus shakes hands with a shy child at The Christmas Carnival in Acropolis Mall. The carnival will run from December 24 to January 1

Thousands of Christmas Day revellers kept their date with Alipore zoo on Wednesday and the animals did not let them down

Guess which was more crowded on Wednesday — (top) Park Street or (above) Park Street Metro station

A total of 150 children from different NGOs danced and sang along to classic Christmas carols at a magical Christmas celebration hosted by Chapter 2, Kolkata’s iconic retro dining destination known for its Anglo-Indian cuisine and live music. The event featured the legendary Sumit Roy, Kolkata’s ‘King of Calypso’, along with the Carolzingers, marking their third consecutive Xmas performance at the venue

The Christian neighbourhood in Baruipur ward number 10 were decorated with festive lights and Nativity scene on Christmas Eve

One last top-angle look at the thousands who descended on Park Street on December 25 evening to keep their annual date with Kolkata’s unofficial ‘Party Street’