Riot-hit Orissa experiences peaceful Christmas

(December 28, 2009) Despite threats and rumours of attacks, parishes across violence-torn Kandhamal district of eastern India’s Orissa state celebrated Christmas peacefully this year. “There were Christmas celebrations in all parishes, except one, this year,” said Father Mrutyunjay Digal, an official of Cuttack Bhubaneswar archdiocese that has 14 parishes in the district. The priest said most parishes here could not celebrate Christmas in 2007 because of anti-Christian violence. The district also witnessed untold violence on Christians by Hindu extremists, for seven weeks starting Aug. 24, 2008. Most Catholics spent that Christmas in relief camps, he added. This year, some suspected Hindu groups had threatened to disrupt Christmas celebrations on Dec. 24 and 25, according to media reports. These threats, however, did not materialize. The district collector, Krishna Kumar said his administration not only ensured armed security for Christians this Christmas, but also organized Christmas gatherings, where people of all faiths came together to celebrate. However, Sukananda parish, which witnessed severe attacks in 2007 and 2008, did not celebrate Christmas Eve midnight Mass because they were too frightened to come to church at night.