Most
of the shopping complex and restaurant, tourist area like Thamel and Lack side
of Pokhara get decked up to do brisk businesses which offer mega discount and
sale during Christmas. The colorful light, decorated Christmas tree in big
shopping complex and restaurant prove the advent of Christmas. Christmas in our
days is a collection of traditional and practices taken from many culture and
nation. It is the day that has an effect on the entire world. The spirit of Christmas causes people to
decorate their house and Church; Cut down Christmas trees and brings them into
their home, decking them with silver and gold. The evergreen Christmas tree is
a symbol of essence of life and was regarded as a phallic symbol in fertility
worship. When Sun goes down on December 24th and darkness cover the earth,
families and Church prepare for the participation of their custom and children
seems very much happy with the hope for the colorful gift brought to them by
Santa Claus rapped in the stocking on that night. According to Roman calendar,
25th December as the birth date of Jesus occurred in 336 AD. The canonical gospels
of Matthew and Luke say that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born
from the virgin Marry.
The
growing numbers of Christianity in Nepal prove that we are people of religious
tolerance. Christmas day is a big day for the Christian community. Christian
people enjoy feast and eat that haute cuisine prepared especially for the
occasion. The new generations are the one who participate in every festival
without any discrimination of religion. Coming of Christianity in Nepal is no
longer than last 64 years. After the collapse of Rana regime in 1950, Nepalese
Christian living in Indian came to Nepal along with other missionaries, The
United Mission to Nepal, International Nepal Fellowship are the oldest among
missionaries. After the fall of
Monarchy, Nepal became a secular state, a state of religious tolerance and
freedom under the Interim Constitution which was promulgated on January 15,
2007.
The
country has an area of 54,363 square miles (140,800 Km2) and population of 28
million. Hindu constitutes approximately 80.62 percent of the total population,
Buddhist 10.74 Percent, Muslim 4.20 Percent, Kirat 3.60, Jain 0.02, Christian
0.45, Sikh 0.02 and 0.35 are others. According to the Census report of
government of Nepal, there were about 0.03 Percent of Christian in 1981, 0.17
percent in 1991 and 0.45 percent in 2001. The statistic data shows that,
democratic change of 1990 brought freedom to practice own religion. Many Hindu
converted into Christianity due to its deep rooted inequality and
discrimination. The Conversion into another religion is a matter of personal
choice. Few Christian groups are not agreeing with the census data of
government of Nepal. According to them there are more than two millions
converted Christian in Nepal. It is believe that 2000 to 2011 is fertile year
for the Christian community in Nepal.
My
Hindus are converted into Christianity with the hope of spiritual healing, to
get rid of deep rooted caste discrimination and for the further opportunity and
progressive living. I personally, believe that choosing religion is a personal
matter which should not be imposed upon any one by birth. The tendencies to
restrict religious right and practice is a gross denial of the truth of human
life and a denial of justice
without which peace cannot be attained. Each
individual must have rights to have his/her own religion but there are some
Christian missionaries who think themselves as a super human and consider
native people as inferior, uneducated and uncivilized. They are the privilege
one to teach the uncivilized. In the name of add, they are imposing their
ideology to the innocent and uneducated poor people of Nepal. When we compare
the data, we can analyze that after the establishment of democracy in 1990,
many foreign missionaries are directly involving in the affairs of local church
which brought massive growth in Christian population. The united Christian group
of Nepal is divided into many denominations to tap the foreign donation. The division
of Church proves that they are not for the doctrine rather they are for money
making business which has no accountability. In the name of Christ, few elite groups are becoming
richer day out and day in and poor are becoming poorer.
Yes,
definitely Christian community are supporting in national building. There are
officially no foreign missionaries however, since decade there are many
organization are operating in the name of hospital, school and other welfare
work. Missionary schools and hospital are the choice of people here in Nepal. Some
Christian missionaries are true to their faith and acting according to the
message of Christ. Jesus promotes freedom and liberty of the children of God as
a foundation of society.
Despite
of that we should not forget our national pride and cultural identity as a
Nepalese. We must respect each other’s religion but her in Nepal it is not like
that. The so called converted Christian of Nepal is against “Tika” and “Prasad”
offer to temple. For them it is the work of “SATAN”. They reject it if any Hindu offer them with
due respect. They must learn lesson from born Christian who is visiting Nepal
every year to know its cultural value and to enjoy the natural beauty. They are very open and liberal to practice meditation
and to visit different holy places of Nepal and receive “Tika” and “Prasad”
from Hindu priest without any hesitation. We are living in global village and every
culture, tradition and costume is our asset which should be respected,
protected and promoted for the well being of whole humanity.
I am
not saying that Hindu are right, Even Hindu priest does not allow any Christian
go inside the temple if they notice them. They are also discriminating to
Christian people, some Christian minorities are occasionally facing isolated
and disrespected by Hindu. We must not
disrespect each other’s faith and take the initiatives to develop harmonious
relationship among each other. The
negative attitude toward each other’s religion and wrong perception among us must
be illuminated to build the nation together.
Hate, Fundamentalism, discrimination and fanaticism brings division
among people. Religious intolerance can obstructs and reverse the dynamics of
progressive nation.
Message
of Jesus Christ proclaimed the love, truth, peace and justice in the society.
Every individual should live their lives in freedom and dignity. Peace and
harmony is not possible without respecting each others’ religious rights.
Religious tolerance is the foundation of unity, stability, progress and
prosperity among the multi-religious and multicultural society. Celebration of
the birth of Jesus is not limited to the Christian Community only. Christ was
born for the salvation of whole human race of this planet earth. Jesus gave his life for the eternal happiness
of mankind so we must respect his teaching.
By Giri Bahadur Sunar
The
author is a sociologist and can be reached at girithejorba@gmail.com
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