Nagaland celebrated Christmas with religious fervour and joy on Friday with many churches holding live online Christmas services thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The midnight services on Thursday welcoming the birth of Jesus was limited to lesser congregations in Churches following the COVID-19 protocols within the Christian majority state.
In the capital Kohima, while many Churches have cancelled the most celebrations with masses in Church premises but are conducting live online Christmas services, some are holding the special mass within the Churches but with limited gathering of believers in phases.
Moreover, unlike the previous years where Christmas feast wont to be a part of the Church celebration, this year the state Health and Family Welfare Department has discouraged sharing the feast but to offer deduct packages.
Houses, commercial buildings, churches and streets are lit with decorative lights within the state for the Christmas.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, Leader of Opposition T R Zeliang, political parties, Naga national political groups, tribal hohos (organization) and civil societies have extended Christmas greetings to the people of the state.
“Truth, non-violence, forgiveness and beauty are the essence of this joyous festival. allow us to imbibe these essential virtues as we celebrate Christmas,” said Ravi in his message.
The chief minister said: “Christmas may be a season of peace, joy and hope. A time of giving, a time of sharing and of loving. A time to share the great news of God’s like to all, … Christmas signifies the top of despair, the start of hope and a time of latest blessings from God.”
Saying that Christmas is an event for reconciliation and re-union, he said this is often the time to revive broken relationships, to repair strained ones, to forgive each other and most significantly reconcile with God by seeking forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings.
In his message, the chief minister also touched on the unresolved Naga Political issue saying that it’s been happening for several decades but in spite of the many agreements and accords, sacrifices and hardships, it couldn’t be resolved.
“It has been over 20 years since dialogue and ceasefire began with an aim to realize the simplest possible agreement and settlement for our people,” he said while calling upon the Naga people to “continue to wish and collectively work to resolve the Naga issue by 2021 to cause lasting peace in our land”.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that despite COVID-19 pandemic, the year has been relatively peaceful for our state, and that , the people of Nagaland got to thank God for His manifold blessings and protection.