Thousands gathered for Christmas March in Tbilisi

Residents of Tbilisi and Kutaisi took part in the traditional "Alilo" Christmas March; in the capital of Georgia, they were congratulated on the Christmas by President Salome Zurabishvili.

Today, in connection with the traditional "Alilo" Christmas March, the authorities decided to block several Tbilisi streets. The participants of the dramatized march symbolically depict angels and magicians. They collect gifts and sweets from residents of Tbilisi, and then distribute them among orphanages, shelters and jails, the "InterPressNews" newspaper reports.

According to the newspaper, the president has also given gifts to the marchers. She has noted that she was glad to welcome the "Alilo" for the first time in her presidential palace. Thousands of believers took part in the march.

A similar Christmas March took place in Kutaisi. Local clergymen and officials walked, along with the marchers, along the main streets towards the David Agmashenebeli Cathedral, where a festive liturgy took place.