By Jose Kalapura
Patna, Dec 24, 2019: A Christmas Milan (gathering) in Patna noted that the Christmas message of peace to people of good is very relevant today when society is being divided and violence is committed in the name of religion.
Some 200 people, mostly leaders from various religions, in the capital city of Bihar attended the December 22 program organized by Patna Peace Mission and Jesuit-run Xavier Institute of Social Research.
The celebration included singing of Christmas carols, visit of Santa Claus and video presentation besides message by dharma gurus of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Jain and Bahai faiths.
Religious leaders highlighted the relevance of Christmas peace in a context of increasing violence in the name of religion.
Hundreds of thousands of people are displaced or forced to migrate because of violence today. Millions of Indian citizens are driven to despair on the question of their identity and citizenship.
Hindu guru Swami Shashi said his sanatan dharma (eternal religion) does not teach hatred of other religions because it believes that the essence of God is present in all human beings.
Brahmakumari Sangita Bahin agreed and said that all religions have emphasized love as the core message and it should be shown in our functional life.
Maulana Mahibbullah, Muslim cleric from Jamia Munemia, Patna City, said using violence in the name of religion is contradiction of religion. They are enemies of humankind, he added.
Islam respects Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. Jesus came to bring peace to the world and did not ask one’s caste or religion, but taught us to love all humans. He was born poor, lived as poor, identified with the poor and showed love of the poor as the touchstone of real love of God, he said. One who does not respect and follow Christ cannot be a follower of Prophet Muhammad, the maulana added.
Father K. C. Philip, a Catholic priest from Danapur, a Patna suburb, said Christ’s birth is unique because it shows God’s loving presence as a human among humans. Humanity is one as we are all children of the same God. Celebrating Christmas means living the values of Christ such as love, brotherhood-sisterhood, toleration, and forgiving even one’s enemies, he said.
Bante Anand Dev, head of Patna’s Buddha Vihar, pointed out that God is one though different names and paths are used to experience God. At the birth of Christ we are reminded of the greatest teaching of Christ, namely, love others as you love yourself, he said.
Jain and Bahai religious leaders also emphasized that there are many ways to reach God, but Jesus taught that serving others is the best way to reach God.