O come, all you faithful, joyful, and triumphant. O come ye, o come ye to…India? Yes, you’ve read correctly! Christmas is as widely celebrated in India as the light-bringing Diwali, colourful Holi, holy Ramadan, and every other festival. Like every year, the Christmas 2024 celebration in India will begin with a sacred midnight mass to praise and worship Jesus as soon as the clock strikes twelve!
So, before you pull out your gifts and drinks to get the party started, why not explore some of the best churches in India to experience midnight mass services? It’s an excellent way to draw closer to God, discover Christmas traditions in India, enjoy an hour of melodious choir singing, gobble up sweets before sunrise, and say Merry Christmas first to your loved ones!
St. Paul’s Cathedral: Kolkata
Image credit: Shutterstock/Dr Ajay Kumar Singh
Capturing the essence of Kolkata’s culture and the influence of British rule, St Paul’s Cathedral shines the brightest in the city with its all-white façade! Its exterior was crafted based on the Gothic architecture style, with a few Indo-Gothic elements. Find the lowest air tickets to Kolkata to hear the midnight mass melodies in the church, amplified by the structure of the Cathedral, which was built to focus on enhancing acoustics.
Book the best hotels in Kolkata to explore the city with all-inclusive West Bengal tour packages to explore Allen Park’s Christmas Bazaars, Park Circus Maidan’s Christmas festival, and a few other magnificent churches, including the oldest St. John’s Church! You can book car rental services to make getting around easier.
Our Lady of Good Health Basilica: Tamil Nadu
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If you’re looking for the best places to celebrate Christmas in India, the miraculous Basilica of our Lady of Good Health, one of the most iconic churches in India, should be at the top of your list! The Basilica invites thousands of pilgrims yearly and stands over the spot where Mother Mary appeared, making it similar to the Lourdes Basilica in France.
Book hotels online in Chennai, close to the Basilica to reach early and get front seats for the midnight mass and experience the healing services first-hand! If you’re booking cheap Mumbai to Chennai flights to visit, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the clear beaches, the Church Museum, and the site of a miracle at Old Velankanni Church with affordable Tamil Nadu tour packages.
Also read: Winter Holiday Destinations: Top 10 Indian Destinations that will make your winter spectacular.
Our Lady of the Mount Basilica: Mumbai
Image credit: Shutterstock/AnilD
Overlooking the Arabian Sea and the bustling Christmas-lit Bandra lanes, the Basilica of our Lady of the Mount, or Mount Mary, is a midnight mass favourite and one of the best churches in Mumbai. Bandra is home to many Bollywood celebrities, and its true heart at Bandstand is what you’ll pass by when driving towards the church with complete Mumbai tour packages.
The church gained popularity for the annual Bandra Fair, organized during the week of Mother Mary’s birthday. It has Gothic architecture, influenced by the Portuguese, with the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Navigators, which you can see up close if you book budget and luxury hotels in Mumbai and arrive early. You should also visit the beautiful St. Andrew’s Church in Bandra when you book cheap flights to Mumbai.
Zunheboto Sumi Baptist Church: Nagaland
Image credit: Nagaland GK
Considered to be the largest church in Asia, the midnight Christmas mass at Sumi Baptist Church is worth hopping on a cheap flight from Mumbai to Dimapur for! Accommodating up to 8,500 people at once, the church has a palace-like look and feel, offering a scenic overview of Zunheboto that you can explore with Nagaland tour packages.
If you book some of the best hotels in Nagaland within less than a mile away, you’ll get to hear the booming sound of the half-ton Poland bell of the church! The egg-shaped blue and white church is a marvellous spectacle to behold before the midnight mass begins. Book bus tickets online to get around Nagaland efficiently on a budget!
Basilica of Bom Church: Goa
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A marvellous example of Baroque architecture in India, Goa’s Basilica of Bom Church is an excellent location to experience the divine during the midnight mass of Christmas 2024. Compare and book cheap flights online for Goa and get a closer look at the incorruptible body of St. Francis Xavier, currently on exposition in Goa till January 2025!
The Basilica of Bom Church is a UNESCO Heritage Site, which you can see while exploring the state’s beaches and attractions with all-inclusive Goa tour packages. Book the best hotels in Goa if you want to attend the midnight mass for Christmas in India, as crowds will flock to the city for the exposition.
Also read: Top Six Cool Places to Stay in Goa.
Church of St John in the Wilderness: Dharamshala
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The Protestant Church of St. John in the Wilderness is straight out of a fairytale, in the middle of the Deodar forests, accessible with Dharamshala tour packages. Book one of the best hotels in Dharamshala to enjoy a peaceful and spiritual midnight mass experience enfolded in the arms of nature.
Find the real meaning of the Christmas season, away from the glamour of the modern city, in the quiet pews of this church by hopping on a cheap flight to Dharamshala. The church has Gothic architectural influences, with rich Belgian glass-stained windows. The Christmas events will begin on 24th December 2024 at 4.30 pm, with a fun classical guitar singing concert!
St. Philomena’s Cathedral: Mysore
Image credit: Shutterstock/suronin
With breathtaking Neo-Gothic architecture, mimicking the look of Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, St Philomena’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches to celebrate Christmas 2024 in. You must’ve spotted this marvel on the big screen while watching the Amar Akbar Anthony film. Get the lowest air tickets from Bangalore to Mysore to attend the midnight mass here and admire the magnificent stained-glass windows telling the story of Jesus and the multi-coloured marble altar!
The interior is a marvel, filled with intricately crafted Corinthian pillars and ornamental niches, which you can admire while exploring with the best Mysore tour packages. Book some of the best hotels in Mysore, close to the tallest Church in Asia and get front seats for the Christmas Eve mass!
Shepherd’s Memorial: Udaipur
Image credit: Udaipur Times
Blending right into the cityscape filled with forts, the Shepherd’s Memorial Church has been standing in Udaipur for over a hundred years! Udaipur is an excellent spot to attend the holy midnight mass because of its bustling markets, which are better than any Christmas bazaar.
With the all-inclusive Udaipur tour packages, you can also explore the Ambrai Ghat, Fateh Sagar Lake, and beautiful Sajjan Garh Palace! The church’s façade reminds visitors of the history of Udaipur, as it retained its vintage charm over the years. Book budget hotels online in Udaipur and admire the millions of stars shining over the Thar Desert to know what the Three Wise Men visiting Jesus saw!
Click here to find cheap Mumbai to Udaipur flights. Apply for Indian passport online and get online visa services for 180+ countries to plan your trip before the year ends!
So, which of the churches for Christmas will you pick? Let us know in the comment below. Happy holidays!
FAQs- Midnight Mass in India
What is Midnight Mass in India?
Midnight mass is the Christmas Eve mass, which is the main service for Catholics to begin celebrating Christmas festivities.
What is special about Midnight Mass?
Midnight Mass celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ during the midnight hour of Christmas Eve.
What countries celebrate Midnight Mass?
Churches in all countries celebrate midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
When was the first Midnight Mass?
The first-midnight mass was conducted by Pope Sixtus in 430 AD at the Basilica of Mary Major, Rome.
Can anyone go to Midnight Mass?
Yes, people of all faiths, castes, and ages can attend the midnight mass in any church in India.
What is the true name of Christmas?
Christmas is a day that celebrates Jesus’ birth, yearly on 25th December. The word Christmas is a portmanteau of Christ and mass.
What is the tradition of Kerala on Christmas?
Like most Indian states, Keralites clean homes, prepare delicious festive sweets, decorate the Christmas tree, exchange gifts, and attend mass to celebrate Christmas.
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