CFD officials along with the representatives from other communities during the Pre-Christmas celebration held at Living Word Fellowship, Dimapur on December 19.
Dimapur interfaith Christmas celebration reaffirms forgiveness & love
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 19
The Christian Forum Dimapur (CFD) organised a Pre-Christmas celebration here on Friday at Living Word Fellowship, with people from all faith participating in the event.
Addressing the gathering, Sudip Narayan Dutta, president of Hindu Seva Samiti in Dimapur, said Christmas has transcended its religious origins to become a celebration for all. Christmas is not only for the Christian community but it is now a celebration which goes beyond faith, Dutta stated. He added that the festival extends beyond a single day, calling it ‘a month-long celebration for all people.’
Emphasising the need for communal harmony, Dutta urged all communities to maintain and uphold the peace, joy and oneness that we share in Nagaland.
The working president of Muslim Council, Dimapur, A Rahman asserted that the celebration was a call for a new era of peace, brotherhood amongst all community living in Nagaland.
Emphasising on peace, Rahman said that it is our desire to see the Nagas in peace. “When Nagas are in peace, we feel we are safe. If anything is happening to the Naga society, we become concerned what will happen,” Rahman said.
Recalling the 2015 lynching incident in Dimapur, he said that he was moved by the way the Christian people regretted the mistake committed, adding that the communities from all sides repeatedly came and asked for forgiveness for the grave mistake committed, to which he said was a “true virtue of Christianity.”
Taking example from his early schooling life to college, he said that he had been close with Christianity from a very close angle as a non-Christian, asserting, “Nagaland is the most peaceful state.”
Likewise, Rahman stated that Nagaland has never had a communist violence because we have close relations with each other, adding that mistakes are inevitable at some point but it is a matter of understanding to keep the peace alive and well.
Representing the Jain community, Dr Ajay Sethi said that people are “praying to the same God in one sense” as the spirit is made in His image, asserting that “Love is God and God is love.”
He called upon communities to love every human being, emphasising that “every soul is valuable and precious.”
Stating that the purpose of creation is yet to be fully established, Sethi said, “The more we try to understand, the more we come nearer to it and we invite and do good for each and every one of us.”
He appealed to the communities to be good to each other and “do whatever is best for each other.”
Buddhist community Joint Secretary, Bijayata Barua asserted that tough the faith and the traditions may differ within every community; the values we cherish are the same, adding that ‘Love, compassion and service to the community’ was the true virtue of a community.
Dr Manish Kumar, MD Radio Diagnosis and the owner of Insight Imaging maintained ‘though our belief systems were different, our heart beats together; observing that events like this send a strong message out to the society.’
“Hope can arise from even humblest of beginning. You don't have to be a very big person or a very important person to bring changes in the society. We can do all in our small ways. The spirit of Christmas is all-encompassing and all of our religion shares the same,” Dr Kumar asserted.
He said that the message is clear and same, though the books and the scriptures we read are different.
In a world which is fragmented by language and misunderstanding, he said that events like this have a very strong feeling, a feeling of love and shared adversaries in life.
He called for the gathering to ask forgiveness to someone whom we have wronged, while at the same time forgiving somebody who has wronged us.
“Let us encourage a young student who is struggling in his life. Let us reach out to a friend who is low. Let us share our meal to somebody who needs our companionship. Let us all come together and truly live the spirit of Christmas,” Dr Kumar appealed.
Stating that Dimapur was an adopted town for him with only two years of residing, he said that he was surprised that there had never been any riots, religious riots, and added that there is no history of it.
“This should be highlighted and the message should be sent to all across India that there exists a place where people are there who can stay together without fighting,” he proclaimed.
Earlier, the Chief Editor of Nagaland Post, Geoffery Yaden in his address emphasised that Dimapur being a place of all communities needs each other irrespective of faith, adding that we must not build a wall of religion and division.
The programme was chaired by David Khobung, invocation by Dr Volodi, Pastor, Town Baptist Church and welcome address by Dr Alem Sangtam, President CFD with Ruth delivering a special song.
The celebration message was delivered by Benjamin Sumi, Pastor, Dimapur Sumi Baptist Church while the vote of thanks was pronounced by Nukshila followed by benediction by Rev Dr N Paphino, President of BSI Dimapur Auxiliary.
