About 35,000 Christians in Dhaka are celebrating the Christmas Day today, marking traditional birth date of Jesus of Nazareth with due religious fervour and a call for peace.

In Dhaka, there are 15 Churches of which eight are Catholic churches and the rest follow other denominations. All of them started celebrations from yesterday evening.

All the Catholic churches in the city including St Mary's Cathedral Church at Ramna, Holy Cross Church at Lakshmibazar, Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon, National Major Seminary, St Lawrence Church at Kafrul, De Mazenod Church at Nayanagar, St Christians Church at Asad Gate, Mary Queen of the Apostles at Mirpur, and Mary Queen of Lourdes at Mahakhali have been decorated with candles, bulbs, and bouquets, and statues of Mother Mary, Jesus, and the magi to greet the Christmas day.

The Saint Mary's Cathedral at Kakrail is the main church for the Christian Community of Dhaka and adjacent area. But like previous years the biggest gathering is going to be held at Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon. Christian foreigners living in the city usually join prayers at Holy Sprit Major Seminary Chapel at Banani.

Prayer sessions were arranged yesterday at the Saint Mary's Cathedral and at the Holy Rosary Church. Three Masses will take place today at the Saint Mary's Cathedral. The first will be held at 6:30am, the second at 8:00am and the last will be at 9:30am.

Talking to Star City, Father Jyoti F Costa and Father Patrick Gomes of the Holy Rosary Church hoped that at least 12,000 people are going to join the Masses.

Father Jyoti said: "We are celebrating the birthday of the Prince of Peace. We will pray for the peace in the country and in the world."

"The lessons from the Prince of Peace is tolerance, love for each other, acceptance and forgiveness. The present situation of the country needs all these," he said.