RKM Christmas celebration dates back to Dec 24, 1886
SHILLONG: As the Christians in the state are set to celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25, The Shillong Times spoke to non-Christians on their ideas regarding the significance of Christmas.
The secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Achyuteshananda Maharaj said that RKM respects all religions even as he wished that the festival will imbibe the spirit of love among one and all.
He also said that RKM celebrates Christmas every year on December 24.
It was Ramakrishna’s disciples who first started celebrating Christmas on December 24, 1886.
After the death of Ramakrishna in 1886, nine of his disciples, including Swami Vivekananda, gathered on December 24 night and read scriptures recollecting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They lit a fire outside the house of one of the disciples, Babu Ram (Swami Premananda), at Antpur in Hooghly district of West Bengal and took the vow of sanyas. Swami Vivekananda spoke about the sacrifice of the disciples of Christ and the need to emulate the way of life of Jesus and his disciples.
Ramakrishna’s disciples also contemplated on the life and works of their spiritual teacher and stressed the need to spread a new message of redemption. They realised only on December 25 morning that they had taken the vow of renunciation on Christmas-eve. Since then, all the units of Ramakrishna Mission recollect the teachings of Jesus on Christmas-eve.
Sharing his views on Christmas, the Shillong Muslim Union leader Sayeedullah Nongrum said that people should be thankful that the Messenger has come to the world.
“As per the beliefs of the Muslims, he is a prophet,” Nongrum added.
Paramour Singh, vice president of Guru Singh Sabha said that Christmas brings people together and it is a time for celebration which every community looks forward to.
RL Seth, president of Jain Sitambar community said that Christmas is a time when all sections of people, especially children, irrespective of faiths make merry.
“In fact, many people celebrate Christmas just like pure Christians,” he said, adding that the festival brings all sections of people together.
According to people of different faiths, Christmas is a festival which spreads peace, love and joy and like Christians, other communities in Shillong wished that the festival will bring peace, love and harmony among all.