Guwahati: On Christmas Eve, grieving from the district of Mon in Nagaland, where the black flag is still fluttering cold because this is a terrible shooting incident center earlier this month, which has left tradition and celebration to win over sadness.
With a heavy heart, people are ready to wipe tears and deliver the Yuletide Spirit.
Even when the district government said it had finished channeling the compensation of RS 16 Lakh against each family of those who were killed in the hearts of hearts injured by tribal villagers, Christians were ready to celebrate Chirstmas by offering prayers to those who were killed in church shootings Baptist Church throughout the village.
But regardless of hatred of the center being blamed for ‘giving the scope of the killing of civilians due to AFSPA enforcement in Nagaland for decades, believers will pray for the welfare of the President of India and the Prime Minister, confirmed their feelings for Indianness.
Extremist groups in Nagaland raised demand for cessation of India in the past, but on Christmas Eve, the Baptist Village Church decided to make a bond with India stronger.
“Oting people want justice.
We are not a stranger but from mainland India.
Even though we live in a remote corner in the country, peace is just as important to us.
Anyone who is at the top of the Indian justice delivery system, must give justice to compatriot , “Noykem Konyak, the pastor of the Baptist Church of the village of Oting, told TI on Thursday.
Even though the celebration will never be the same, he said tradition must be maintained at any cost.
Christmas will begin in the church with silent prayer, which will simultaneously be held in 100 strange villages where the dominant baptism churches are located.
In Oting Church, drama and cultural programs are usually held throughout the day every Christmas.
It is a way to involve every village teenager with social-religious activities.
This time 1,500 strange villagers, including those who worked home during Christmas, were ready to celebrate.
“We started preparing for Christmas five months before and the program is scheduled accordingly.
We have called a cultural program and only sermons to be held about how to live in peace and forgive.
But we will not miss prayers for the President, PM and us.
People at India, “Konyak said.
“When a grieving family still cries, it is unfair to go for happy celebrations with cultural extravaganzas.
Instead, we will visit their homes killed and injured to comfort them,” he added.
Chemyuh Konyak, Executive Secretary, Konyak Baptist Churches Association at Mon, said Christmas must be celebrated even on a sad note.
He said church leaders had been told to hold a silent prayer one minute before Christmas service began.
“The mood and emotions are very different in Mon this time.
OTING’s shooting has left our hearts bleeding,” he said.
In other parts of Nagaland, oting episodes may not dampen the spirit.
Akheto Sema, Secretary General of the Baptist Church Council in Northeast India (CBCNEI), said, “On Monday we must understand the pain and sadness of the people.
But Christmas will always be celebrated.
This year we will also celebrate,” Sema said.