Christmas card with a touch of the local : Acknowledging MBC
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 20 2018 -

The conceptualisation could not have been better than this.

Giving it a local touch and making the recipient understand the essence of Manipur and what better time than the Yuletide season ?

The efforts of the Centre Church of Manipur Baptist Convention should be acknowledged.

Perhaps this is the first time in the history of the Yuletide season in Manipur that efforts have been made to give a local touch to a Christmas card and this is what can be seen in the card launched by the Centre Church of Manipur Baptist Convention on December 18.

What one sees is not the legendary reindeer but our very own Sangai, which is the State animal.

In place of the pine trees the Christmas card features Uningthou, which again is the State tree besides the one and only Shirui Lily the State flower.

Nongin which is the State bird is also a beautiful addition to the Christmas card.

Falls perfectly in line with the understanding that Christmas is a universal celebration, not confined to any particular country

. Also aptly fits the idea of India which draws its strength and beauty from secularism.

In coming out with such a card, MBC and the men and women behind it have conveyed the message that Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ with a local touch, thereby underlining the point that Jesus Christ did not differentiate anyone on the basis of caste, colour or creed.

The Christmas card is also another effective way of conveying the message that what is needed to celebrate Christmas is right here at the doorstep of every community and one need not import any idea from others.

Making the spirit of Christmas our very own.

The Centre Church of MBC has also successfully endorsed the idea that Christmas is today not only a celebration for the Christians but is an occasion for all.

This is where the beauty of the Yuletide season lies and the Christmas card from MBC clearly reflects this idea.

An important point that can be learnt from the Christmas card of MBC is that anything that talks about humanity can be made our own, make it simpler to the common people and in the process involve them directly in the celebration.

And what better way than to present pictorials which can be identified by all.

The initiative of MBC should be acknowledged and here is hoping that this approach carries on in the coming years.

In a few days from now, Christmas will dawn and in celebrating the day, let the basic teaching of Christ not be lost on anyone.

Peace, this is the essence of celebrating Christmas and it is here that people should put in their best foot forward to ensure that nothing derails the understanding of peace.

Or else the very idea of celebrating Christmas will stand defeated and in such a scenario it is the people who will stand to lose.

The healing balm in the hill-valley divide can be said to have been applied by the BJP led Government and it is only logical that the Christmas spirit gives more strength to the healing process.

This will make the celebration of Christmas all that more meaningful.