Now, before I pen down my humble opinion on the Usage of Crackers in Christmas Celebration, I am ducking down to the volley of opinions that will gather in self defense from those who are entitled to thier own opinion and liberty. But, for the sleepless nights, pollution filled air which I have to breathe , Murgi bimar and the sometimes panic fright of whether Real war has started, I am entitled to use my liberty of writing .
For the starter , Happy Christmas wishes to all, although it’s a delayed wish but May the Lord’s purpose of coming to Earth as son of God through Mother Mary be fulfilled ,His ultimate aim of showing God “s love for us to Give us an everlasting life be fulfilled .It had been indeed a blessed Christmas for me.Church celebration, Christmas Cakes ,Christmas decorations ,Christmas gifts, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, Christmas dress, Christmas wishes ....Wow ! I have fulfilled all the traditions that came as parcel of Christmas tradition. Looking at the material aspects which fulfills the criteria of the so called Celebration in tradition, I can say I had fulfilled and celebrated the Day well enough only. However, am I just blindly flowing with the wave of Christmas tradition that which I know not also why and from where it started? I am not against all these material traditions but what I am not sure is , of the purpose of all these ,especially when it is overshadowing the real meaning of Christmas. The west introduced Christmas trees ,Christmas cards, Christmas cakes ,Christmas Father ,Christmas songs and made our celebration more beautiful and bright .So thankful that we get to decorate our Churches, Houses and Towns in a manner that throws a sense of warmth in our hearts for the festive season. I cannot imagine now a Christmas Day celebration without the presence of all these and many more customs and traditions, that symbolizes Christmas to us and to so many of the Non Christians too.But ,my dear Nagas , amidst celebrating the Day of the Birth of Christ with so much joy in our hearts that we wish to shout “ Hallelujah “ and then burst Crackers with joy opening bottles of alcohol to show that our hearts are so happy, may we not be in the danger of ushering a wrong tradition to Christmas, judging by the way we Nagas, is becoming addicted to Crackers beating even the Non Christians in thier celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Light. I compare our Behavior to Non Christians and feels sad to admit this that we are been Hypocritical in our action. Bursting of Crackers to the Non Christians was restricted from Nov 9-11 and was not allowed beyond 11 pm on Diwali as notified in local papers ,But in a festival that has nothing to do with Crackers , we are bursting it with full enthusiasm even early morning or afternoon as though we become real Christians only if we burst crackers in celebration.
Now, Many readers will not agree and may say ,” Toi laga poisa para burst kuri ase naki ?” But If it is your money ,kindly Confine the noise to your compound only.If you have complain saying ,” are you a better Christian ,are you also not a sinner ? Don’t preach hypocritically just because you do not burst crackers.” Let me prayerfully answer that ,I have also sinned and falled short of the Glory of God but ,I do not want to fall in the danger of ushering Crackers to Christmas Tradition because I assure you , if we practice this for 5 more years ,our Children will feel incomplete this Christmas celebration without bursting Crackers like us.Christmas Prayers ,Carols and Humanity is in danger of been replaced by the so many material traditions that we have ignorantly promoted for our enjoyment rather than Celebration .We have all become a bunch of Invitees who celebrate the party at the neighbours house while the real Party, the real Host stands at the door alone with a sad heart. The “ Silent Night Holy Night “ essence of Christmas is changing to “ Crackers Night Party Night “ .
Dear Nagas, we can celebrate any day of celebration without crackers also, please try it .We had celebrated so many Christmas and New Years without crackers before and we can now also. We are just carelessly wasting our money, polluting the air, promoting noise pollution and giving ourselves an hazardous environment for our own children. Please give a thought on this point on Secular ground also if not on Religious point of view. Reflecting my opinion on Christianity I humbly put forward 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.
May The Lord Bless the Nagas always !
Kulnalim
