DIBRUGARH, Dec 4 - Christians from various churches of the city jointly marked Christmas advent celebration-cum-decennial jubilee of its union �Dibrugarh Inter-Church Forum (DICF)�, at Bishop�s House here on Friday.
Organised by DICF, an association of different churches, the event was attended by members from Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church, Church of North India (CNI), Church of Jesus Christ, Mizo Church, Dibrugarh Kuki Worship Service, Saura Baptist Church, Believers� Church and EUSI of Assam Medical College.
The Christmas advent or Pre-Christmas, as it is commonly called, commenced with �praise and worship� as also carol singing by seminarians from St Joseph�s Seminary, Lichubari. The invocation was led by L Takri, a senior priest from CNI followed by lighting of the Christmas lamp and scripture reading.
The sermon on Christmas was delivered by Pradeep Kawa, a senior priest of CNI and administrator of St Luke�s Hospital, Chabua. The other events included carol singing, Bible skit and a few entertainment programmes. The decennial event held during the first part of the day was attended among others by local religious heads like Acharya Bhikku Karuna Shastry, Head of the Buddhist Monastery at Dibrugarh; Giani Gurdial Singh Cheema, Head of the Gurudwara; and Maulana Md Farman Hussian, who represented Sadar Kazi Zillur Rahaman of Dibrugarh.
The inaugural session of the decennial event started with flag hoisting of the DICF by Joseph Aind, the catholic Bishop of the Dibrugarh Diocese followed by prayer from Fr Nichollas, the Parish Priest of local Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish. As a part of the itinerary, sapling plantation was done by the religious heads of various faiths and Christian denomination as also superiors of St Mary�s School and Little Flower School.
Dr Doungel, president of DICF in his address said that upholding unity and fostering cordial relationship among people of all faiths was important for the country to grow. The other speakers who included heads of the local religious groups also spoke about unity, peace and understanding among all.
Significantly, as the day coincided with Asom Divas, the gathering on the occasion also sung Aami Asomiya Nohou Dukhiya and O Mur Apunar Desh.
