Christmas: All wish for peace and harmony
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 23, 2013:
Several hill as well as valley based organisations and individuals have extended greetings to the people of Manipur for the coming Christmas celebration.
Taking the lead in greeting the people, President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Gaikhangam said Jersus Christ sacrificed his life for the well being of human beings and wished for a peaceful co-existence, unity and love amongst the different communities of the State with the arrival of Christmas.
Prof Gangmumei Kamei, National Vice-President, Schedule Tribe Morcha, BJP greeted the Christian brethren and prayed for peaceful co-existence amongst the different communities of the State.
Naga Peoples Front (NPF), Manipur State unit; All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU); All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM-T); All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM); Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur (ZSUM), etc in their separate greetings wished that peace be prevailed in Manipur with the coming of Christmas.
Greeting the people of Manipur in general and the Christian brethren in particular, President of Naga People's Front, Manipur State unit Soso Lorho said, "Let this Christmas brings peace and unity amongst the people of Manipur as our Lord Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
On the day of our Saviour was born, peace was given to all.
So let us spread the good tiding and the message of peace to each and everyone," the NPF Manipur State exhorted.
"May this Christmas be so meaningful that the redeemer is truly born to each and everyone so that peace overwhelms in Manipur," AMTU general secretary Romeo Bungdon stated while ANSAM president Seth Satshang in his greeting said, "This Christmas, may the wonderful love of Christ fill every heart and home with peace, joy and happiness and in the New Year, may His blessings continue to abundantly spring forth bestowing us with the strength and wisdom particularly in our trying times that truth and justice prevail".
ATSUM president Muan Tombing, however, appealed to all sections of the society not to disturb the Christmas festive atmosphere.
The Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur wished everyone a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.
The Union also appealed to all to discard all differences between the organizations, unions, parties or at individual levels and celebrate the Christmas and New Year with happy and gay.
The Minorities Development Forum, Manipur (MDFM) also wished all the Christians of minority communities in Manipur a merry Christmas and expressed hope that the celebration of the festival would bring peace and harmony in the state.
Wishing particularly the Christian brethren on the occasion of Christmas, MDFM in a press statement said let the festival clip the differences of caste and class and rich and poor among the various different strata of society in the state.
It also said let this Christmas bring blessings from Lord Jesus to even out all the people into one single echelon by fulfilling the basic rights of the minority communities.
MDFM maintained that peace and harmony can be brought about only when there is indistinguishable development in a society.
President of Zeliangrong Youth Front (AMN) Titus Kamei extended best wishes and warmest greetings to all people and communities irrespective of professing different faiths, beliefs and religions on this festive season of Christmas and said, "Let the celebration of Christmas, the Birth Day of "Jesus Christ" the Prince of Peace overfill with love, joy and peace to every one.
"The peaceful atmosphere and environment that we are all passing through during this festive season without any sorts of creating disturbances unlike those previous years signifies realization and moving towards mutual understanding especially between different arms groups.
The spirit of forgive and forget and reconciliation is visible amongst different arm groups from their greetings and messages sent out to the people.
Let the celebration of this Christmas brings permanent peace and tranquillity, love and understanding to one and all in the days ahead to come.
Wishing you all "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", Titus Kamei said in his greeting.
All Manipur Ethnical Socio-Cultural Organization (AMESCO) has also warmly welcomed the ensuing Christmas festival and greeted the people of the State especially Christian brethren.
AMESCO informed that as done in past, AMESCO members would be visiting several churches and present gifts and sweets to mark the occasion.