Christians celebrate Christmas with religious fervour

All over the world including Pakistan, the Christian community celebrated Christmas today (December 25) with great religious fervour, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

Special programmes were held in churches across the country to celebrate the festival.

Residential colonies of the Christian community have been decorated with twinkling lights and stars. Wreaths have been hung outside stores buzzing with last-minute shopping on the Christmas eve.

Churches have been decorated with colorful lights and illuminated with Christmas trees.

The government has made elaborate security arrangements to avert any untoward incident on this occasion.

Like other cities of the country, the Christmas festival continues in the City of Quaid, Karachi.

Christmas was celebrated in a grand manner in Trinity Church. The Christian community was seen congratulating each other and distributing sweets.

All the churches in the city were decorated with electric lamps. During the Christmas mass service in the churches in the morning, teachings were highlighted and special prayers were offered for the development and prosperity of Pakistan.

On this occasion, cakes are being cut to celebrate the birth of Christ and women are organizing family meals at their homes.

In Lahore, Christmas mass services were held in different churches including Don Bosco Church at Empress Road and Sacred Heart Cathedral Church.

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of Christians around the world. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many countries.

Popular holiday traditions include gift giving; completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath; Christmas music and caroling; watching Christmas movies; viewing a Nativity play; an exchange of Christmas cards; attending church services; a special meal; and displaying various Christmas decorations including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly.

Additionally, several figures known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own form of traditions and folklore.

President, PM extend wishes to Christian community

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar have extended their heartfelt greeting to the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas.

In his message on Christmas, President Alvi said that minorities in Pakistan enjoy all political, economic, and social rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.

He said that the Government of Pakistan provides equal opportunities to all citizens irrespective of their colour, class and creed.

He vowed the government is committed to ensuring the protection of the rights of all religious minorities in Pakistan.

“Our religion, Islam fully recognizes and protects the rights of minorities. The Government of Pakistan provides equal opportunities to all citizens irrespective of their colour, class and creed,” the president said in his Christmas message.

The president said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Founder of the Nation, in his historic speech of August 11, 1947, had stated that everyone, irrespective of color, creed, and religion, would have equal rights, privileges, and obligations, along with complete religious freedom in the new State of Pakistan.

“As we gather with family and friends to celebrate the festive occasion, let us also remember the values that bind us together as a nation—respect for diversity, protection of minority rights, and a commitment to building a tolerant and inclusive society,” he said while extending his warmest and heartfelt greetings to the Christian community on the joyous occasion of Christmas.

He also assured that the government was committed to ensuring the protection of the rights of all religious minorities in Pakistan, adding that he felt pride to say that all organs of the state fully protect the rights of minorities.

“Together, we can work towards a brighter and more harmonious future for our great nation,” President Secretariat Press Wing, in a press release, quoted him as saying.

President Alvi said that Christmas was a time of joy, reflection, and celebration, holding a special place in the hearts of our Christian brethren. It commemorated the birth of Hazrat Essa (A.S), whose teachings of love, compassion, and peace continue to inspire and guided them. The diversity of religions and cultures was a source of strength for Pakistan, and the Christian community had significantly contributed to the social and economic development of the country, he observed.

The president said they acknowledged the commendable services rendered by the Christian community for the promotion of peace, tolerance and harmony in the country.

“On this festive occasion, let us celebrate the spirit of Christmas, fostering unity, understanding, and goodwill among all communities. May the message of Christmas, with its themes of love, forgiveness, and hope, resonate in our hearts, guiding us towards a future filled with peace, happiness, harmony and prosperity,” he added.

In a message on the occasion, the Prime Minister said Christmas is the name of love, brotherhood, patience and sacrifice and these are the values that are critical in putting a society on the path of development.

https://twitter.com/anwaar_kakar/status/1738985478219764093

The prime minister said, “The Christian community is celebrating Christmas in Pakistan and across the world and I and the whole nation felicitate the Christian brothers and sisters on the happy occasion of Christmas. Christmas is the name of love, brotherhood, patience and sacrifice.”

These values were critical in putting a society on the path of development, he added.

The PM said the Prophet of Allah, Hazrat Essa (AS) healed the pain of humanity and took the message of God to the whole humanity.

Hazrat Essa (AS) reformed humanity with teachings of peace, brotherhood, tolerance and forbearance which led to the success of humans.

The moral teachings and the guidance of the Prophet were a beacon for humanity for all times to come, he continued.

He said in the present age there was an acute need to follow Hazrat Essa’s message of human compassion, affection, tolerance and fraternity.

In the last few years at the international level, human society had been facing an adverse situation due to a wave of religious intolerance, he observed.

“To reverse this negative trend we have to spread Hazrat Essa’s message of brotherhood and religious tolerance and follow his teachings to make the world a cradle of peace. In this way we can forever end hatred from the world,” he remarked.

He said the white colour in Pakistan’s flag represented the minorities including the Christian community which played a vital role in the progress and development of the country, and in all fields including defence, judiciary, arts, sports and education made their countrymen proud.

The prime minister said the Christian community laid down their lives for strengthening the foundation of the country and for its integrity and solidarity.

He said in the Quaid’s Pakistan, every person had complete religious freedom and the constitution of Pakistan provided special protection to minorities, adding every citizen was given equal rights and they had complete freedom of worship and had liberty to perform religious rituals and celebrate religious occasions.

“The State and every citizen have the responsibility to protect their places of worship,” he asserted.

He said, “The issues faced by Pakistan can only be resolved when we rise above the divisions of colour, ethnicity, and religion and work day and night as a united nation for the progress of the country.”

“Pakistan is our home and on this occasion of Christmas we should pledge that together we will make Pakistan a model of religious tolerance and brotherhood and play our foremost role in taking our country out of all kinds of difficulties,” he concluded.

Reporter Hamna Nisar