Jose Kavi
New Delhi: A leading Protestant Church in India has brought together various Christian denominations in the national capital for a festival of peace to share the Christmas message.
Opening the second “Aman ka utsav” (festival of peace) on December 17, Bishop P K Samantaroy, moderator of the Synod of the Church of North India (CNI), called upon people live to the core message of Christmas by maintaining peace and harmony in the present socio political scenario.
The festival, a Christmas Carol singing program, was held at Central Park in Connaught Place, the heart of New Delhi. The park sits atop Rajiv Chowk, the busiest station of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
CNI general secretary Alwan Masih, who also addressed the gathering, said the festival was an occasion to pray for India’s political leaders as well as those guarding its borders and maintaining law and order. “Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, is the good news of great joy, to all humanity,” he said and added that it was also the season of giving and sharing God’s love.
The Church leader also drew attention to the problems the elderly face in modern India. The country, he added, has around 15 million elderly people, mostly women, who live alone. “A large number of them suffer physical or verbal abuse,” he added. Masih also predicted that the elderly in the country will touch more than 300 million by 2050.
He also stressed the need to provide justice and joy to millions who suffer poverty, ignorance and diseases. Many are homeless, migrants and victims of human trafficking. These people are “helpless against the forces of exploitation, oppression, injustice and modern slavery,” the Church official regretted.
The Church official also said Christians want to share the joy and happiness that Christ who was born a migrant brings to people in this dismal scenario. “Let all life be filled with love, peace and joy,” he said. According to him, “the holy, infinite and transcendent God” chose to become human to share people’s sorrow and suffering and bring them peace and joy.
On the occasion, the organizers used skits and songs to sensitize people on environmental and social issues such as protection of girl children and cleaner India.
As many as 15 choirs representing various Churches and Church groups participated in the festival.
The participants also prayed for the nation where love, peace and joy to prevail.