MUMBAI: Churches across Mumbai have welcomed the Bombay High Court’s decision granting permission for the 61st edition of Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav (PYJ) 2026, scheduled to be held on Sunday, December 13, 2026, at Girgaum Chowpatty Beach.
The annual Christmas celebration is expected to draw an estimated gathering of 25,000 to 30,000 people from across Mumbai and beyond, representing various Christian denominations and communities.
PYJ was founded in 1965 by Lady Tara Cherian, wife of the late P.V. Cherian, former Governor of Maharashtra, and the first woman Mayor of Chennai in independent India. According to the present Chairman, Dr. Abraham Mathai, Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav has grown over six decades into a significant inter-church Christmas celebration in Mumbai.
Dr. Mathai further explained that what began as a humble initiative to celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ has, over the decades, blossomed into a large-scale Christmas gathering, bringing together churches of different denominations, diverse communities and people from all walks of life.
Over the years, the celebrations have been graced by several eminent dignitaries, including Members of Parliament, Ministers and Governors, reflecting the event’s longstanding significance.
Another Trustee, Mr. Earnest D’Costa, pointed out that the 2026 celebration marks the 61st anniversary of Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav (PYJ), commemorating more than six decades of faith, fellowship and service to the Christian community.
He emphasised that this milestone reaffirms PYJ’s enduring role in fostering Christian unity and bringing Mumbai’s diverse church communities together, transcending denominational differences in the shared spirit of Christmas. The 61st anniversary is therefore both a celebration of a remarkable legacy and a reaffirmation of its founding vision of bringing people together through faith, love and unity.
The Bombay High Court’s permission on Wednesday has paved the way for preparations for this year’s celebration at the iconic Girgaum Chowpatty Beach.