Kathmandu, Dec 25: President Ramchandra Paudel said that festivals are instrumental to promote diverse cultural identities and enhance mutual good will, tolerance and solidarity among the communities having different religious faiths. Extended best wishes to Christian religious people for their happiness, peace and good health on the occasion of the ‘Christmas Day’, he expressed the confidence that such festivals would further strengthen and consolidate national unity.
Christmas Day is celebrated every year on December 25 as a religious and cultural festival to mark the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. On the occasion, various programs are being organized in different parts of the country, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Pokhara. President Paudel wished that the festival of Christians would inspire all to deepen the spirit of mutual trust, love and unity.
Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has extended his best wishes to all Nepali Christian sisters and brothers living at home and abroad on the occasion of ‘Christmas Day’. Every year, Christians celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 as a religious and cultural festival. On this occasion, he expressed his best wishes for happiness, peace and prosperity to all Christians on behalf of the party and himself, according to a press release issued by the Nepali Congress.
“Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural country. We have our own harmonious tradition of respecting and honoring the various festivals, religious and cultural customs celebrated here amidst this diversity. These festivals have further developed the collective spirit and helped to lay the foundation for unity and harmony among all,” said President Deuba. He expressed his best wishes on the occasion of ‘Christmas Day’, saying that it can inspire everyone to enhance social harmony by creating an atmosphere of happiness, peace, and prosperity in everyone’s homes.
Celebrate nationwide
People of this community are celebrating Christmas Day today to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. Two thousand and twenty-five years ago, on December 25, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, Israel. Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, gave three main joys, said S.B. Gahatraj, President of the Nepal Christian Federation.
He said that the Christian community celebrates this day as all three days in the belief that he gave salvation, love and peace. He said that today is celebrated as Love Day because he came to love people, Peace Day because he came to establish peace and Liberation Day because he came to give salvation. Christmas Day, which is celebrated by many people around the world, has been celebrated as a festival in Nepal since 2063 BS (2006) by the Federation.
A public holiday was given on the occasion of the day from 2063 BS to 2074 BS (2006-2017). On this occasion, from 2075 BS to 2077 BS (2018-2020), only Christians were given a holiday. From 2078 BS (2021), a public holiday has been given to everyone again on this occasion. The Federation claims that there are currently 3.5 million Christians in Nepal. The Federation has also stated that more than 15,000 churches have been built. It is reported that there are churches of all 13 Christian denominations in Nepal.
It is reported that the Christmas Festival 2081 (2024) was organized this afternoon under the organization of the Federation’s Main Events Committee. Chairman Gahatraj said that representatives of all political parties, including government representatives, will be present at the program organized at Nepal Academy-Pratishthan Kamaladi.
Recently, Christmas trees have been decorated in major places in major cities. They are decorated to attract foreign tourists, especially from the Christian community. The Christmas festivities are more visible in tourist areas such as Thamel, Bouddha, Pokhara, Sauraha and other places. Preparations are being made to celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ in these places.
