“Spreading the virtues of Peace, Harmony & Hope to a world in turmoil” was the Christmas message this season.”
India’s largest Christmas gathering– the 59th Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav, was celebrated on 8th December 2024 at Girgaum Chowpatty, Mumbai, as thousands of Christians came together to commemorate the birth of Christ. The occasion was attended by Christian leaders across denominations, including Cardinal Oswald Gracias, various Bishops, Pastors, as well as dignitaries like Justice Shri K.K. Tated (Chairman of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission), Shri Nitin Patil, IAS (Secretary of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission), MLA Shri Ashish Shelar, and MLA Shri Rahul Narvekar.
Over 25,000 members of the Christian community participated in the event, rejoicing in the spirit of Christmas and resounding Jesus Christ’s teachings of love, peace, and goodwill. Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav was started over 59 years ago by the then Lady Governor, Tara Cherian, and since then this celebration has remained a significant tradition, taking place every December for the past six decades.
The PYJ celebration served as a platform to inspire individuals to reflect on their role in encouraging peace and healing within their communities. This year, the PYJ message of compassion, unity, and hope emphasised the need for humanitarian solidarity amidst ongoing conflicts, suffering, and loss affecting our world.
Dr. Abraham Mathai’s (Chairman of PYJ and former Vice-Chairman of the State Minorities Commission) address and the PYJ message reaffirmed the Biblical call for compassion, urging the Christian community to be peacemakers and agents of harmony in a world rife with turmoil.
The festive spirit of the Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav thus called on attendees to embrace kindness. The Christmas message at PYJ, along with Dr. Mathai’s speech reaffirmed that Christmas is a time to counter the strife dominating global headlines with acts of kindness, understanding, and love. The season’s message encouraged the audience to reflect on their ability to contribute to a harmonious world by embodying love, peace, and goodwill—principles that are central to Christ’s teachings.
Dr. Abraham Mathai, also highlighted in his speech the Church’s remarkable resilience throughout its 2,000-year history, enduring severe opposition and persecution. He stressed that even in the present day, the Church faces immense suffering in many regions across the globe but continues to flourish and expand.
“No matter how many churches are destroyed, no matter how many Christians are murdered, no matter how many Bibles are burned, the Church’s persecutors, be they the Romans of the Ancient World or the totalitarian regimes of the modern era, have never been able to extinguish her. Despite the relentless attacks mounted against it, the Church has stood for over 2,000 years!” Dr. Mathai noted.
Dr. Mathai also noted that the foundation of the Church is not a building, nor is it found in the numbers who enter its doors. It is founded entirely on Christ. Highlighting the contributions of India’s Christian minority—comprising just 2.5% of the nation’s demographics, Dr. Mathai stated that despite being a miniscule, when it comes to serving India, more than 40 per cent of healthcare institutions for the marginalized sections especially among the rural population and other social work are undertaken by the Christian community. The educational, medical and health care institutions along with other socio- economic advancements are a testament to the Christian community’s contribution to the nation.
The 59th year of the Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav stood as a symbol of unity, inspiring the audience to embrace the spirit of Christmas and Christ’s teachings, and to cultivate compassion in their lives.