The Christmas evening at the Sacred Heart Cathedral (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India) at Ashok Place witnessed a warm and enthusiastic crowd as hundreds of people had gathered to offer prayers and celebrate the birth of Christ.
People had queued up to enter the church wherein security measures were arranged for the entry. The pavements in front of the church were lighted up with fairy lights, candles and colourful baubles.
Aslam (22), who sat on the pavement selling bright red caps, said the festival was special to him as he earned a little extra on this day compared to other days when he sells toys in schools.
As people queued up to enter the church, their eyes were glued to a big screen projecting the story of Christ. “I have come to church for the first time and I am excited to explore and enjoy the festival with my wife and newborn,” said R Gupta, as he lined up to offer prayers.
The garden areas in the side arena to the entrance was decorated with beautiful display of events from Christ’s life story wherein people were seen creating memorable moments of their own as they celebrated with family and friends.
Inside the church, people made offerings to Christ, prayed for best wishes and accepted the blessings in the form of sacraments received. Shivangi (19) said her father is Sikh and her mother is Christian. Her mother has been coming to the Sacred Heart Cathedral since 1983 and continues to do so.
Robin (30), who was busy giving gifts to the pavement dwellers, said, “I have been giving gifts like this for the past four years and it gives me immense pleasure to do so”. Helping the poor and being generous is what Christ teaches us, added Robin.