Indian Christian Pilgrims march for Peace in Bethlehem
December 27, 2011: Hundreds of Christian pilgrims from India took out a procession
in Jesus Christ's birthplace of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, praying for world peace.
Over 500 Indians who took part in the procession were Christian tourists from
various parts of the country. Father Sleeba Katpumangappu from Kerala who led the
march on Saturday night said upheavals in various parts of the Middle East during
the last few months inspired them. Jose Liba of the Scopus World Travel, which
organized the pilgrimage to Bethlehem, told News agency, PTI that Indian pilgrims
enthusiastically responded to the peace march. Pilgrims from the Southern Indian
states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala also held a separate prayer meeting in Bethlehem for
an amicable settlement of the Mullaperiyar Dam row concerning division of water between
the two states.