Akangjungla
The busiest time of the year has come and it is almost Christmas in Nagaland. The run-up to Christmas is keeping the people busy in the market places, the roads are jammed and there is a ubiquitous sense of rush. December is filled with advent Christmas programmes, decoration from homes and shops to every streets in the colony, and so much more all in the lead-up to the celebration. Members of the largest church community to the smallest union or council are occupied with choir practice, yearend meetings, family get-together and endless events.
There is nothing necessarily wrong with the traditions, however, every hype and excitement hit the Christmas letdown as the season and atmosphere does not stay all through the twelve months of the year. The three-four weeks of never-ending preparations and celebrations regrettably does not match to the reality that waits across December. Corruption, unemployment, poor governance, non-payment of salary, bad or no road connections, rising prices, agitations and many more – they all still remain the sad truth of the Naga society.
Being the most celebrated holiday in the world, irrespective of the religious belief, the celebration of Christmas leads to joy and happiness. Love and Peace are at the core of Christmas—it is the reason behind all the gathering and festivity. Although the society today is highly secularised, the story and message of Christmas remains divine. The value of love and the dream for peace are what make Christmas more than a Christian festival. Stephen J Nichols, PhD in his book Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas reminds the readers about the universal dream for peace. He says, “There is only one way to turn the dream of peace into reality… If we are looking for permanent and ultimate good will, love, and peace, we must look beyond our gift-giving, get-togethers, and office parties. We must look to no other place than to a manger.”
Much of the hopelessness and despair – social, cultural, personal etc – originates from a place of lack of love and compassion for one another and from a place of disregard for peace. As majority of the population is Nagaland profess to be a ‘Christian’, the hope is for all to share and uphold true love and peace of Christmas this season.
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