come Christmas and the oldest churches of the region become the melting pot of eastern and western sensibilities

Christmas celebrations will have a dash of Pahadi culture and cuisine in Shimla as well as other parts of the state. The celebrations will include the famous Pahadi nati (dance) and Himachali dham.

The dham, which includes a wide variety of local dishes, will be served along with the traditional Christmas delicacies, such as plum cakes, gujiyas and homemade ginger wine. “The involvement of local communities has increased over the years during Christmas celebrations. Therefore, a Pahadi nati has been made a part of the celebrations inside the Church this year,” said reverend Vinita Roy, priest-in charge, Christ Church, Shimla.

Coconut cake, black current cake, Christmas plum cake and fruit cakes as well as cookies are prepared during the festival. “Christmas food varies widely around the world. In Himachal, some households prepare local delicacies too,” she said. Vinita Wilson, a resident of Shimla, said, “While many people prepare cakes and wines by themselves, some prefer to buy them from the markets.”

The festivities began on December 5 with carol singing, a cherished tradition, where a group of 10 to 12 people, along with the priest-in-chief visited the homes of fellow Christians. The group covered the entire town till it all concluded on December 19, leaving behind a trail of festive spirit.

Neha Saini

Saint Paul’s Church and Christ Church Cathedral are not just important religious landmarks, but also part of Amritsar’s colonial history. As one of the oldest churches of Punjab, St Paul’s, built in 1853, was the first church to come up here, exclusively for British soldiers and officers, but Indians were barred from praying there. As a result of this colonial division, Christ Church was built at Rambagh in 1862 by Church missionary Society (CMS) and it became the Native Church. Originally named Bait-ul-Masih (The House of Christ), the Christ Church, Rambagh, became a significant site for all missionary activities during the time.

St Paul’s Church, which was elitist, was located outside the walled city, but Christ Church was within the periphery of the other historical religious sites of other faiths, thus becoming a symbol of communal harmony of the Holy City. When the Jallainwala Bagh massacre occurred in April 1919, Christ Church was among the sites of faith bearing the brunt of public outrage, as its structure was burnt down days after the fateful incident of gunning down innocent Indians by General Reginald Dyer. After a fire incident, it was re-structured in 1921 and given the name Christ Church.

A fine example of British architecture, some of its original features, including Good Shepherd windows and verses of the Bible inscribed in Urdu just behind the altar, have remained till date, making it an important remnant of the structural heritage in the city. St Paul’s Church, with its magnificent building, which attracts several tourists, situated on Court Road, is one of the oldest churches of the Diocese of Amritsar. It was first used for worship in 1853 and was part of the Diocese of Lahore.

Cold warms up Chandigarh’s spirits

Mona

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth…reads the Psalm 71.5. Even though mercury dipped, human warmth is palpable at the Christ The King Cathedral Church in Sector-19, where Christmas preparations are in full swing on Friday.

This year, the theme is ‘Christ is the hope’. Even as it drizzled, we notice the gardener trimming the rows of flowers. Inside the cathedral, ornaments are being hung, and seats marked for choir. Noah’s Arc and Crib Display is taking the final shape, as a symbol of the resilience of humanity. Today and tomorrow are going to be big days with two masses scheduled, both in Hindi and English for each day. “It’s the time to welcome Christ in our lives. Of course, spiritually we embrace it but we also decorate to celebrate the joyous time,” says a nun, joyfully placing ornaments.

The foundation for Cathedral of Christ The King was laid in 1977 and it was inaugurated in 1979. Carol singing marks the beginning of the two-day celebrations. Bishop Ignatius, the head of the local church, will lead the English mass at 6 pm, followed by Hindi mass at 10:30 pm. Parish Priest Fr. Xavier Harold, along with assistants Fr Lenin Henry and Fr. Lancy, are busy making preparations for a Merry Christmas.

Ludhiana’s Christmas imbued in Punjabi spirit

Shivani Bhakoo

Prayers, cake-cutting ceremonies, carol singing, community dinners; plans are afoot to celebrate Christmas in Ludhiana. The city has as many as 550 big and small churches. As many as two to three thousand devotees reach one of the oldest churches in the city, CNI Kalvari Church, near CMC, on Christmas.

This church was established in 1938. Besides, at the Holy Cross Church in Sarabha Nagar, the festival is celebrated with a Punjabi flavour. On the tunes of dhol, devotees sing and greet each other on Christmas. The church was established is 1976. Even langar is served to the visitors!

In Jalandhar, St Mary’s Cathedral all decked up

Deepkamal Kaur

Set up in the serene environs along the Mall Road of Jalandhar Cantonment and surrounded by lush green lawns, fountains and tall palm trees, St Mary’s Cathedral is the most powerful seat for the Roman Catholics in this part of the region. It came up as the first Catholic church of Punjab in 1847, just around the time when Christianity was introduced in this part of the region by the Irish battalion of the British Army that got stationed in Jalandhar. At that time, it was a small church called St Patrick’s Church. It was under the control of Lahore Diocese for about 100 years till Partition.

In 1971, when Jalandhar Diocese was set up, the church was elevated to the status of Cathedral and it became the seat of the Bishop. Symphorian Keeprath was the first Bishop here and served for 35 years till he retired in 2007. “I was in the team that got this cathedral re-constructed with all its grandeur. It was Bishop Keeprath who laid the foundation stone of the new building,” said Father Thomas, the main priest at the Cathedral.