'Restricted Joy': How Are Pakistani Christians Celebrating Christmas This Year?
© AP Photo / K.M. Chaudary
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Christmas is a celebration that brings people together and in Pakistan, the Christian community is ready to celebrate the joyous occasion despite threats from militants and economic woes. Sputnik spoke to some prominent Pakistani Christians, who shared insights into their community.
Pakistan is predominantly Muslim, but Christians and Hindus make up the largest minority groups, with each representing about 1.6% of the population. There are approximately 2.5 million Christians living in Pakistan, although reports suggest that this number could be higher, as many Christians who live in villages do not have identity cards.
The southern port city of Karachi has a large Christian population, as do the cities of Lahore and Faisalabad in Punjab province. There are also countless Christian villages in the Punjab heartland, and also a large Christian population in the conservative north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly in Peshawar city.
Christmas preparation in St. John's Church, Peshawar, Pakistan.
— Walled city of Peshawar (@Oldpeshawar) December 20, 2022
📍8J5HXGXJ+H8 pic.twitter.com/FYVI0p5NUM
Some of the biggest churches in Lahore include the Cathedral Church of Resurrection, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Andrew's Church, St. Anthony's Church and St. Joseph’s Church.
As for Karachi, the most famous are the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Our Lady of Fatima Church, Sacred Heart Church, and St. Andrew's Church, also known as the Scotch Church.
Over the years, however, tolerance in Pakistan has declined as society has become more Islamized. Before the partition of the Indian subcontinent, minorities used to make up 15% of the population in these cities; now they account for less than 4%.
December 25 is a public holiday in the country but it is not in memory of Jesus. The day is dedicated to Quaid-e-Azam, the 'father' and founder of the nation.
Festivities Amid Economic Crisis
The Christian community in Pakistan commemorates Christmas with celebrations and festivities. The traditions vary from town to town but church services are held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which is called 'Barha Din' or Big Day.
In a conversation with Sputnik, Reverend Dr. Alfred Yaqub, a pastor in Grace Assemblies of Pakistan and professor at Forman Christian College shared how Pakistani Christians will be celebrating Christmas this year.
"We will be going to the churches and decorating our homes, as per tradition, with lights and Christmas trees. Nowadays we can see Christmas trees being decorated in plazas, shopping malls and cafes all over the country and that is very kind of the people," Yaqub said.
He went on, saying that the Christians distribute cakes, which is an old tradition, and they visit each other's homes and arrange barbecue parties. "On the night of December 24th people go to churches as we celebrate Christmas eve and in the morning we have a morning service, after which people get together with their loved ones,” the reverend added.
Christians dress in bright clothes and spend the day meeting, visiting parks and enjoying themselves. However, due to the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, there are some setbacks that the community is facing this year.
In conversation with Sputnik, Pakistani Christian Dr. Ayra Indrias Patras, assistant professor at Forman Christian College University said, "I will be attending a church service, sharing cakes and sweets with neighbors and meeting relatives. Due to non-availability of gas in the kitchens, cooking traditional Christmas dishes such as gajar ka halwa (carrot dessert) and kheer (sweet rice pudding) has become extremely difficult.”
Pakistan has been facing rising inflation and gas shortages across the country, which makes it difficult for people to prepare feasts on special occasions.
Just last month, Pakistan's Petroleum Division told a parliamentary panel that there would be gas load shedding for hours throughout the winter due to gas shortages in the country. Currently, gas load management has been seen as an optimum solution to the crisis.
22 December 2022, 18:31
In Karachi, it was reported that gas will be provided three times a day, and there will be no gas for 16 hours. The federal government had planned gas to be supplied for three hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon and three hours in the evening.
Apart from the gas and electricity load shedding another factor that is putting a damper on this Christmas is the security situation within the country.
Risks of Being a Minority
Talking about the rise of militancy in the country and whether that poses any threat to Christians, Reverend Dr. Alfred Yaqub said, "Yes there is a threat and we are surprised as to why and where from this sudden threat has risen. But whenever there are threats people do not stop going to the churches."
He elaborated that instead, people arrange for increased security around the churches, the government also gives a provision of guards and police, however that is mostly not enough so the church goers arrange for security on their own.
"We feel the environment of threat and we don't know where the attack will come from or where it will take place. Although we (churches) are always open, we do become more conscious about security. It makes the joy more restricted and it restricts the freedom of movement because parents worry about their children going around the church or going out into the streets," the reverend said.
Similarly Dr. Ayra also shared her concerns, "Security is a big issue given the repeated news of bomb blasts reported during the past one year."
Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant attacks, which killed more than 450 people, mostly security forces, this year. However, the officials dismiss the violence as "isolated incidents of terrorism."
Islamabad has on a number of occasions attributed the resurgence in militancy to the Taliban* takeover of the conflict-torn Afghanistan.
20 December 2022, 18:05
According to human rights groups, Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are also often used to go after marginalized people, including members of religious minorities such as Christians and Ahmadis as well as Muslims belonging to minority sects such as Shia. That also poses a risk for the minorities and makes them a target in social disputes.
Talking about the struggles that Christian minority faces, Dr. Ayra explained, "A sizable portion of Christians in Pakistan belong to the marginalized sweeper community, life is tough for them like for the other poor classes. These people are fighting the rising inflation and non-availability of basic needs such as gas and electricity."
Good Wishes to All
Despite such hardships, Christians across the country have been receiving good wishes from political parties and foreign embassies. Many companies and offices also held celebrations for their Christian employees, especially in cities like Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.
Foreign Secretary @asadmk17 greeted the Christian officers and staff of MoFA on the joyous occasion of Christmas at a cake-cutting ceremony today. He lauded the contributions of the Christian and other religious communities towards Pakistan’s national development and progress. pic.twitter.com/62bGHdR5FE
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) December 23, 2022
A number of cake cutting ceremonies were held in various ministries where Christian staff was commemorated. Moreover, numerous NGOs held winter gifts distribution ceremony for Christian communities.
Serving the unserved while keeping the tradition
— Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan (@AlkhidmatOrg) December 24, 2022
Winter gifts distribution ceremony was held by Alkhidmat Foundation for Christian Community in Northern Punjab.#Christmas #WinterGifts pic.twitter.com/0DgZCK8Pkg
Federal Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, cut the Christmas cake with the Christian employees of the Finance Ministry and wished Happy Christmas to the Christian community living in Pakistan and across the globe.
Federal Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar cut the Christmas cake with the Christian employees of the Finance Ministry today on their Christmas celebrations-2022 and wished Happy Christmas to the Christian community living in Pakistan and across the globe. pic.twitter.com/OAmKDkDuc7
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinistryPak) December 23, 2022
Similarly, PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan held a cake cutting ceremony at his house in Lahore for the Christian members of his party.
*Taliban is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.
