Annual commemoration: People fear a cold and dark Merry Christmas

Preparations completed but electricity, gas shortage likely to hamper celebrations.

ISLAMABAD:

The mood and eagerness are there, the festivities are in full swing, but the only things that could hamper celebrations this Christmas are the lack of gas and electricity.

Decorated with sparkling bulbs, candles and the much-celebrated Christmas trees, the churches in the twin cities presented an ornamented look on the eve of Christmas. People said they were ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with religious fervour and enthusiasm, but feared that lack of electricity and gas could turn out to be a “big problem”.

Members of the Christian community of the twin cities could be seen shopping in various markets, buying plum cakes and decoration items for Christmas trees and gifts for their loved ones. Many special events, prayers and gatherings have been organised by the members of the Christian community across the twin cities in different neighbourhood, churches and embassies.

Major events of Christmas in twin cities will be held at Fatima Church, Saint Joseph Catheradal Church, Saint Paul Church and Church of Pakistan.

Minister of State for National Harmony Akram Masih Gill on Saturday congratulated the Christian community across the world on Christmas. In his message, the minister said that Christmas is a festival of peace, love and tolerance, said a press release issued on Saturday. He said that Jesus Christ is a messenger of peace, love and tolerance. The Christian community should follow his teachers for a prosperous Pakistan and we have to develop interfaith harmony, he added. He also distributed Christmas gifts of around Rs3 million among the members of Christian community.

Illuminated neighbourhood

Youth of the Christian colonies in F-6, F-7, G-7 and other areas decorated their streets with lightings and colourful ribbons and they have also set up a replica of a hut depicting the birthplace of Christ.

“This model is a replica of the birthplace of Christ; we will assemble here and cut the cake at midnight; we will dance, sing songs and celebrate the birth of Christ the whole night,” said Haroon, a resident of one of the Christian colonies in Islamabad.

Pastor Polous Iqbal, guardian of church in F-6, also known as France Colony, said that he was going door to door to invite the people to the church for prayers and cake cutting.

“We gather for prayers before cake cutting and later sing carols for the lord,” said the pastor adding, “Celebrations starts on the eve of 24 which continue till late night on the Christmas day; in that time we exchange gifts, send cakes to the relatives.”

He said the religious gathering is held twice, one before the cake cutting and second in the morning and that he has to be present in the church all day for the services.

The wait for Santa

Many children said they will go to bed tonight hoping that they will wake up to amazing gifts delivered by Santa Claus - the jolly white-bearded man in red with a big belly and a sack full of gifts for the children who have been good, or so the legend goes. “They will try to stay up to greet Santa, but they go to sleep before he comes,” said a woman, referring to her children.

Compromised festivity

Responding to a question about celebrating Christmas without electricity and gas, Pastor Iqbal said, “No load shedding was announced for three consecutive days during Eid; but the government made no such announcement for us. This is a [matter of] serious concern.”

The enthusiastic youth have decorated streets but there is no light, families are planning feasts but there is no gas so they have to use wood for cooking, Pastor Iqbal said.

Afsheen Babar, a local resident, said, “This is the only time of the year when the entire Christian community gets together and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and it is my humble request to the authorities to spare us with load shedding on this holy day at least.”

James, a resident of Sahiwal Conony in F-7, said, “Christian leaders in the National Assembly are given funds for the welfare of community but they don’t even have time to come pay us a small visit.”

Pointing towards the entrance of his colony, James said, “Only police constable will be deputed at the gate of colony for our security. No official visits. They all are corrupt.”

with additional input from app

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2011.