Many Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, are celebrating Christmas with enthusiasm
(Report by Mufti Ziya Qasmi) The Indian Christian community living in the Gulf countries celebrated the Christmas festival with great enthusiasm in many countries including Saudi Arabia. was
However, due to the policies formulated by the Saudi government to attract foreign immigrants from different faiths and traditions along with Vision 2030, Christmas was celebrated here with much enthusiasm this time as well. Arab News, a leading local English daily, has published its first Christmas edition exclusively
Christmas shopping in Saudi Arabia is unimaginable compared to just a few years ago, Arab News reports, reflecting both the growing culture of religious tolerance and the pace and scope of social change underway in the kingdom.
According to Arab News, Wajdan Al-Khattabi, a Saudi marketing professional working at Napco National in Jeddah, said that Christmas items are selling well this year and are in high demand in Saudi Arabia.
According to the report, Al-Khattabi said: Said that I work in an environment where 70% of the employees are Christians.
Christmas in Dubai was celebrated with great fervor as thousands flocked to churches and cathedrals were decorated. The Global Village, the region’s premier destination for multicultural entertainment, is a tourist hub that is home to this year’s Christmas festivities. Global Village’s iconic 21-meter tall festive tree is illuminated with twinkling lights.
As soon as the bells started ringing, devotees gathered in the churches. Churches in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah also saw crowds from Telugu states, according to organizers.
A number of priests from Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh visited the area to give special Christmas sermons.
Stephen Daniel, a leading activist in the Telugu Church Service in Dubai, said that for the first time, all the Telugu churches and chapels in Dubai had come to Dubai. Celebrated Christmas under the banner of United Telugu Pastors Association with the support of K Telugu Association
A small but powerful Telugu Christian community in Saudi Arabia celebrated the festival with great enthusiasm. All the Telugu churches and fellowship services in the Saudi capital celebrated the festival jointly on Friday evening where Simon Sudarshan, specially flown in from Andhra Pradesh, explained the significance of the occasion. D Yerna, leader of the Indian Christian Community (ICC), Wilson also spoke.
Two Telugu churches in Jeddah celebrated the ceremony in which many families participated enthusiastically. A grand Christmas celebration will be organized next week in collaboration with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah.
“I am excited to celebrate Christmas in Saudi, far away from home. The Christian community also celebrated the festival in Yanbu, Jubail and Dammam,” said V John, a resident of Hyderabad’s old city of Panja Shah.
In a historic visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo in 2018, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Pope Tawadros II, the leader of the Coptic Christians. At that time, he was welcomed in Saudi Arabia. He welcomed and met with some of the late Christian leaders in Riyadh. For the past three years, some shops in major cities have been selling Christmas trees and other decorations.
“I am excited to celebrate Christmas in Saudi, far away from home. The Christian community also celebrated the festival in Yanbu, Jubail and Dammam,” said V John, a resident of Hyderabad’s old city of Panja Shah.
In a historic visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo in 2018, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Pope Tawadros II, the leader of the Coptic Christians. At that time, he was welcomed in Saudi Arabia. He welcomed and met with some of the late Christian leaders in Riyadh. For the past three years, some shops in major cities have been selling Christmas trees and other decorations.
The radical change brought great joy to the kingdom’s estimated 1.8 million Christians, the majority from Kerala in India and the Philippines. Christian immigrants who have always enjoyed the freedom to practice their faith and rituals were personally hoping for mass celebrations like others.
Western Christian immigrants living in Saudi Arabian compounds tend to celebrate Christmas and New Year more openly than their counterparts from India.
Indian Christian immigrants are a significantly dominant segment in the healthcare sector and are known for their quality of care towards patients and are appreciated for their exemplary service.
The majority of Indian Christians in Saudi Arabia are from the Kottayam and Alappuzha districts of Kerala, where the history of Christianity goes back almost to the time of Christ.