Christians across the world are celebrating Christmas with Carol singing and special services with traditional gaiety. The celebrations began with midnight masses last night. The focus of the celebration is in Bethlehem, where Christ was born over 2000 years ago. A traditional procession was taken out there with a concert in Manger Square followed by a midnight mass. According to Palestinian Authorities, at least 90,000 people flooded the city for the Christmas celebrations. For the first time, Christians from Arab countries with no diplomatic ties with Israel, flocked to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. Pope Benedict prayed for peace as he delivered his traditional Christmas Eve homily in Rome. At a Mass at St Peter's Basilica, the Pope prayed for God to “implant his peace in our hearts” and also to “break the rods of the oppressors”. About 10,000 people attended the Mass. Churches across India have been tastefully decorated for midnight mass last night and celebrations today. AIR Mumbai correspondent reports that in spite of the terror threats, people in the city are celebrating Christmas with full enthusiasm and vigour. In Goa, the churches and chapels resonated with the sound of bells at the midnight masses. There were grand displays of fireworks also to mark the joyous occasion of arrival of Lord Jesus. In Mizoram, Christmas songs composed by Mizo composers and carols in English were sung by guitar strumming carol parties going from house to house to a warm welcome. In the capital, Aizawl, street corners and road intersections have colourful decorations with cribs depicting the birth of Christ, while snowmen, life-size Santa Claus dolls, reindeer and even sleighs were on sale. Signing of carole, community prayer, mass and rituals in all the churches marks the day in Nagaland. In Orissa, people in Kandhamal district celebrated Christmas with joy and enthusiasm amid elaborate security arrangements, shedding fears of riots that had rocked the communally sensitive district in 2007 and 2008. After performing mid-night mass at different churches in the tribal-dominated district, Christians thronged their places of worship in colourful attires this morning as people belonging to all communities joined the celebrations showing a spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood. In Meghalaya, mid-night services in tastefully illuminated churches across the state heralded the advent of Jesus Christ across the State along with the rest of the world. Government and private buildings and street corners were illuminated and decorated with Christmas trees, banners and festoons. Braving chilly winds Christians in Delhi flooded the churches decorated tastefully for the occasion. Glory to God, peace on earth and goodwill towards men were the theme of meditation in the special churches services.