Lahore Christmas parade returns after decade long absence

Dec 27, 2016

LAHORE: Thousands of Santa Clauses thronged central Lahore last weekend for a traditional Christmas parade, the first time in a decade after security fears brought a halt to the event.

The organizers waved a large Pakistani flag from a float that featured nativity characters and a choir singing carols.

Noman Saeed, a bakery salesman, recorded the parade on his mobile phone with his friends.

"Everybody has his own way of celebrating holy feasts. There is no need to stop religious minorities. Christmas also helps our businesses as demand for special cakes increases in this season," Saeed said.

The hour-long parade was organized by the Junior Church Department of Raiwind Diocese, which brought together Sunday school teachers, students and parents from 25 Protestant Churches. Church of Pakistan Bishop Samuel Azariah of Raiwind Diocese led the parade with four pastors.

"We waited till the last day but there were only verbal assurances for the public parade. Only three traffic wardens helped us. Still, we thank the administration for supporting us in continuing a tradition that had come to a halt due to terrorism. However the security given to churches on Sunday has loopholes," Bishop Azariah said.

"We hope the parade would give a spiritual boost to local Christians. But we do not depend on government security for such events," he said. "The event is our message to the whole nation that Christians also exist; we also have religious freedom. Our persecution will end."

Churches around the country hold Christmas melas (fairs) and run programs for children and the needy around this time but most of these events are held within church premises. Security has been tightened around more than 480 churches in the city after last year’s twin suicide bombings of churches in Youhanabad, the largest Christian settlement within Punjab.

Security plans for Christmas have included placing the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Lahore into an 'A category' for risk. CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates will be installed at the entrance of the largest Catholic Church, which has not held any prayer processions on the main road for more than a decade.

Announcements were made on Sunday forbidding Catholics from bringing along friends of other religions.--Ucanindia.com