Kathmandu, 25 Dec: President Ram Chandra Paudel has expressed his belief that the ‘Christmas Day’, the great festival of Christians, will help further strengthen and consolidate national unity within diversity.
In a congratulatory message issued on Thursday on the occasion of Christmas Day, President Paudel stated this.
He said that such festivals enhance the feelings of mutual goodwill, tolerance, and solidarity among communities bearing diverse cultural identities and religious beliefs.
In the message issued by President Paudel, it is said, “It is expected that this day, which has the spiritual guidance of love, forgiveness, compassion, and peace, will inspire to strengthen humanity, equality, and a spirit of service, establish social unity, and promote good conduct, a peaceful lifestyle, and fraternity while preserving history and culture.”
Followers of the Christian religion celebrate ‘Christmas Day’ on December 25th every year as a religious and cultural festival, organizing various programs on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. In Nepal, this festival is celebrated by organizing various programs in different parts of the country on this occasion.
Finally, I pray that this festival of the Christian community will inspire to deepen mutual trust, love, and feelings of unity among all Nepalis.
Public Holiday
Followers of the Christian religion are celebrating ‘Christmas Day’ today in remembrance of the birth anniversary of the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ. Two thousand and twenty-five years ago today, on December 25, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, Israel. Sibi Gahtaraj, President of the National Christian Federation of Nepal, explained that Jesus Christ, who is said to have been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the Virgin Mary, gave three main blessings. He stated that the Christian community celebrates today as all three days based on their belief that He brought salvation, love, and peace.
According to President Gahtaraj, this day is celebrated as the Day of Love because He came loving humanity, as the Day of Peace because He came to establish peace, and as the Day of Salvation because He came to grant salvation. He mentioned that while Christmas Day is celebrated by many people worldwide, in Nepal, the Federation started celebrating it as a grand festival only after the year 2063 BS (2006 AD).
It has been announced that the Christmas Festival 2082 will be organized this afternoon under the main ceremony committee of the Federation. President Gahtaraj stated that representatives of the government, officials from concerned bodies, human rights activists, and others will be present at the program. On the occasion of the day, a public holiday was observed from 2063 BS to 2074 BS.
From 2075 BS to 2077 BS, the holiday was given only to Christian followers. Since 2078 BS, it has been a public holiday for all again. In recent times, main locations in major cities have been decorated with Christmas ‘trees’.
