Christmas – the Biggest and the most important festival of the World's largest religion is indeed a time to give, a time to share, a time to spread peace and harmony, a time to understand. The magic of Christmas is beautiful and unique; and its overlying message is 'Peace and harmony and good will to all men'. In short Christmas is a time to love.

Christmas – What a beautiful time of the year it is! Christmas is indeed a unique and a very special festival which has its own aura, charm and magic about it. Christians around the globe wait anxiously to celebrate this festival to mark the birth of Jesus in the little town of Bethlehem, a little more than 2000 years ago. A event which is the most significant to the Christians because God himself came in the form of man, to lay down his life a sacrifice for the sins which had taken captive of man after the fall at the Garden of Eden.

And what a joyous occasion it is, with Carols filling in the air, a spirit of love in the air. There have been many instances in history where Christmas magic has left an unexplainable effect on men. During the Second World War, the German Troops and the British Soldiers silenced their guns on Christmas Day in a true spirit of Christmas, and stopped the bloodshed for a day to commemorate the 'most important event' in history since the beginning of Time.

But in this fast paced world, Christmas has lost its true meaning and essence; religion has become nothing but a sham to cover the 'deepest, intense and intimate intentions' that one holds inside. The Churachandpur District and the town which has a predominantly Christian population, also waited anxiously for this season and the Christmas day, which is no doubt the biggest festival of the district. And the Shops in town especially the apparel and the Shoe Stores did a real brisk business and raked in the 'moolah' on the 24th – the Christmas Eve…. And it is usually on the Eve that all the 'x-tions' takes place.

And in this age of Generation 'X'… I think it is now getting more and more appropriate to call the festival 'X'mas than 'Christmas, for the simple reason that Christ is hardly of any importance in the way 'the Generation X' of this predominantly Christian town Ccpur celebrates Christmas. This is not only the town of Communalism, and of the Guns, Drugs and the Damages done… it is also slowly becoming a town of eroding and decaying moral values…..maybe we can thank the T.V. Serials 'Kasauti' and 'The Bold and Beautiful' for this 'Sexual Promiscuity' that is the name of the Game.

The District Administration lifted the Curfew from the 23rd Night of December, and on the 24th the town came alive with all loud speakers blaring, like a prisoner who had been just set free…. The Care-free spirit of the Youths (the Generations X) of the town, roamed around like an unleashed beast seeking a place to play and satisfy all its desires.

The Town virtually became a Carnival on the eve of Christmas for the Care-free Spirits of this town, for the 'Cock-tail Generation', for the teeny boppers….who wanted to make the most use of the Night because Parents usually let of their guard on nights like this filled with festive spirit of the season. And it's on nights like these when passion runs high and rules the game, even a microphone or anything for that purpose could taste like a Beer!

Sounds of revelry could be heard on all sides and in all directions in a spirit of a true and joyous celebration of an occasion unparalleled in the history of mankind. Some of these sounds of revelry were genuine coming from the Church, worshippers praising their God who had come down in the form of man, these were the sounds of the true celebration of Christmas.

While the others sounds that could be heard from the Streets were just sounds of 'Youths running wild in their drunken stupor; ignited by passion, by desires, and lusting in the name of love', these on the other hand is the sound of the youths intoxicated with the wine of youth and alcohol … and they are celebrating not Christmas but X'MAS and there is a world of difference between the two.

Getting drunk on X'mas Eve has become a norm for the youths of this town and else where. It is on the Eve that these untamed youths seek to live out their fantasies, and act out what they see on the celluloid screen. Armed with small little packets tucked away in their wallets to be used in case of extreme emergency, they stalk and hunt their prey, and look for a place…. Youths of these days are hard to define and understand for it is that 'emergency' that they desperately seek…. No wonder they are called the 'Generation X' And on nights like these 'the dimly lit liquor shops in the many by-lanes of the town are open all night'…Well isn't the Appetizer a nice way of whetting one's appetite before going to the Main Course??

I drove around the town on that beautiful Christmas Eve to observe and to see. It was when I was driving on the well known Tiddim Road that I was made to have the impression of driving on a Formula-1 Race track, Motorists and Bikers whizzed and zoomed past me with a speed that could give even Michael Schumacher an inferiority complex and the chill. “Wow! This town is really alive tonight for a change” I said to myself. I drove on, there was a lot to see, some drunkards trying to pick up a fight, some who just wanted to shout, there were a few though who had found an innovative way of using the cycle rickshaw, loading their rickshaw with tapes and amplifiers, and power battery, these group of young men played the old time Christmas hits from the Jaimaican pop Group Boney-M..

Dancing along as they slowly pushed their makeshift juke-box from one locality to the other spreading the festive spirit all around. One could also see many lovers in pairs, holding hands and heading off to a destination anywhere. As I near the Ccpur Police Station I could see the 'Central Security Forces' with their guns on a night duty, standing dutifully and braving the winter cold, as protectors and guardians of peace – Peace which this town badly and desperately needs. 'Do they know it's Christmas” I asked myself as I turned my car into Rengkai Road for another spin in another locality of the town.

The 'Word X' is used usually to denote something which we don't know and which we cannot really explain e.g like X-ray. Christmas Eve and Christmas had come and gone, but what matters was the way we celebrated it. A question that we all can ask ourselves is did we celebrate Christmas or X'mas? Did we pray and converse with our own and respective God on the need for peace, and understanding and brotherhood amongst us the people of Manipur? Or were we too busy in the pursuit of momentary and temporary happiness which is nothing but a fleeting shadow, a mirage, a wind that blows?

I think we all know our own answers for the questions above. Spiritual Contentment and Joy unspeakable will be the gift of those who truly celebrated Christmas. While on the other hand, a blurred vision clouded by obscurity, a feeling of guilt of having lost one's most valuable possession, and the addiction to that rush will be the 'giving' of those who celebrated X-Mas .

And the letter 'X' can denote far more many things, things better left unsaid… things which are kept understood. Christ was not born for the youths to get drunk, or lose their moral principles. It's a real shame that drinking, drunken driving, accidents and Christmas Eve have almost become synonymous of each other.

I would like to add here that what is written here applies to other religions as well. Festivals or occasion are always a time when the 'young guys and gals' look for a place to play…. Loud sensual music, 'Old monk in hand', that is when the boys and girls get down to play. This goes for all the other festivals too, the essence of the festival is always lost in pursuit of things that will in no way lead them to a higher spiritual learning or Nirvana, or even help them to attain 'Moksha'

The New Year Eve is still to come in a few days time, and many more Eves will have their fall and become victims at the altar of desire….victims?? It takes two hands to clap; life momentary pleasure. Well the Generation –X, who can define, explain or comprehend their ways for they will always be in favor of the alphabet X.

For the Cock-tail Generation, whose greatest fear is being called 'Not Cool', everything or anything which serves their purpose, or which makes them feel one level up above their peers will always be 'Yeh hi hai right choice baby Aha!'