Christmas: Religion no bar

Christmas calls for celebrations in real terms. Here are a few non-Christians from North Delhi who are attending Midnight Masses and decking up the Christmas tree. If you thought Christmas is celebrated by only one community, then think again. There are numerous non-Christian families also who celebrate this popular festival with the same level of zeal and excitement. Midnight Masses on the eve of Christmas is what most of the North Delhiites get tempted to attend. The entire dramatization of the birth of Lord Christ is what fascinates people. Churches are usually crowded with lots of people queuing up to get inside and see the proceedings. "It’s really great to see so many candles lit up by the people; it’s just like the way people light so many diyas on Diwali. The best part of this Mass is that before the readings people sing jingles and hymns with candles in their hands. It’s just an amazing scene," says Deepti Bakolia with a twinkle in her eyes. Deepti gets her brother, Siddharth along to attend Special Mass on this eve. "Well, after all, a cuppa coffee and piece of Christmas cake are what I look forward to having as that’s really yummy," exclaims Siddharth.Though many might not be able to make it to the Midnight Mass in the church, they still celebrate it with a lot of vigour. Small little parties are organised at home on this day with families getting an opportunity to spend some time together. For Nupur Makhija, a financial analyst, from Shakti Nagar, it is more of a day for her to dress in red and white and have loads of fun with her friends and family members. Though she has attended the midnight service previously, now, due to her busy schedule, she is not able to make it to the church anymore. "Till the time I was in college, I used to have parties at my place and even decorate a Christmas tree. We still celebrate Christmas, with all of us involved in some or other activities. While my mother prepares special cake on this day, I take up the decoration part," says Nupur. Anup Thomas from Sector-13 Rohini finds it real fun to take his non-Christian friends along in the Church near Pitampura. "Now, for the last three years, my friends are coming regularly with me on 25," explains Anup.So, it’s not just the cookies, cakes and the jingling bells that have remained the centre of attraction for the non-Christian families of North Delhi; rather people have entered the premises of the church. They enjoy watching the birth of Jesus Christ and join their fellow Christians in the hymns.

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Nitty-Gritty of religion

It is religion which has become the basis of lots of events happening in India, discussed and debated at all levels due to its mal effect on the society and people. So as one sees violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka on one hand, there is tension between Hindus and Muslims on the other hand in various parts of the country which are aggravated by the recent bomb blasts.These make one stop and think if religions are serving the purpose they are created for i.e. to bring balance and harmony to the society and to protect and foster faith in the supreme authority. Religion is also meant to bind different people together with a common thread. Thus, it does not only have spiritual objective but also social responsibilities. Most of the major religions so far have been able to bring people together who follow it but have been unsuccessful in building a unified multi-religious society.People who follow a certain faith are not conditioned to look through their beliefs and appreciate and honour the other religion. The so-called secular people stay away from all religious activities including their own religion. So, over time a partially secular culture (as stated above) has been achieved but the equality and peaceful co-existence of all faiths is still to follow. Every religion’s history state that they have been formed whenever the society needed to be organised or re-organised as it offers a set of unenforceable laws which the folks adhere to voluntarily and which become more important than the rule of law.One can refer to caste system in Hinduism which aimed at classify individuals on the basis of their professions but which is passé as new vocations are mushrooming in today’s world. Sikhism owes its organisation to the Khalsa cult, established initially as a military order of "saint-soldiers". Protestantism originated to deal with the flaws of the Church and protect people from it’s the oppressive practices.It is to be observed here that even though there has been a transformation of the social scenario over the last century, the way religion is looked at and pursued has not been changed considerably. If religions do not adapt to present conditions and become a cause for aggressive consequences, it might lose importance in the times to come and might be replaced with better substitutes, some of which are already available. It has already started that people of all religions stick to various cults such as vipassana, brahmakumaris, Art of Living foundation, Auroville among others taken care of by spiritual men and volunteers. They are correctly cut to fit the present set up where one needs a stress-free life above all. Such cults involve various meditation practices as a start up to connect to the Almighty. They are also not devoid of defects like any other religion but are becoming popular with the passage of time. It, therefore, does not matter if we have more Hindus or Christians or which way the conversion equation is moving or whether there are more Bajrang dals or SIMIs. What is more significant is what steps the religious associations take to mould themselves according to the need of the hour.

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CHURCH OF SACRED HEART

Situated at the south end of Bhai Vir Singh Marg in New Delhi, the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart was designed by Henry Medd. One can clearly see the Italian influence in its structure. The facade of white pillars, supporting the canopy, looks beautiful and attractive. Their setting against a dark brick background lends them an ethereal charm. On each side of the cathedral's entrance porch, there are circular arcaded turrets rising above the roof. The interiors look grand and lavish with their towering curved roof, polished stone floors and broad arches

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CATHERDAL CHURCH

Situated to the east of Parliament House in New Delhi, the Cathedral Church of the Redemption was built in eight years and was completed in the year 1935. It was designed by architect, Henry Medd. Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy, was so impressed by its high curved arches and subtle domes that it came to be known as 'Viceroy's Church'. Later, when the Viceroy escaped a near fatal accident in 1929, when an attempt was made to blow up his train, he presented the picture at the east end and a silver cross to the church as a thanksgiving gesture to the God for saving his life.

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