SHILLONG, Oct 25: The Meghalaya United Christian Forum
(MUCF) has urged the state government of Meghalaya to
respect the sentiments of lakhs of Christians by reconsidering
its decision to conclude the upcoming Shillong Cherry
Blossom Festival on a Sunday.
The festival is scheduled to commence on November 17 and
conclude on November 19, which happens to be a Sunday.
In a statement, MUCF chairman Rev Batkupar Dunai said the
Forum believes that every day is a gift from God, but Sunday
is a holy day of public worship for churches of various
denominations except for certain church groups that worship
on a different day.
“With regards to the Cherry Blossom Festival as seen in the
news to be concluded on Sunday, the MUCF would heartily
appreciate the state Government of Meghalaya to shift the
proposed concluding programmes to any other day
graciously respecting the sentiments of lakhs of
Christians in Meghalaya who honorably consider the sanctity
of sacredness of Sunday as the divinely appointed day for the
churches to solemnly conduct prayers, worship and
fellowship for Christian believers undisturbed by any sort of
distractive functions especially the extravagant events,”
Dunai said.
Yesterday, the Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF)
had said the Forum is not against the festivals organised by
the state government.
“However, it (Forum) wishes to emphasise that Sunday is
maintained as a sacred and holy day by Christians and
Churches,” KJCLF secretary Rev Dr EH Kharkongor said in a
statement.
Kharkongor said that the Forum wishes that the festivals be
celebrated with peace and community participation and that
it is free from any disruptions or disturbances to promote
peace and harmony in the State. (NNN)
