Christmas at Madhya Pradesh Chief Mnister’s Residence

Media Release

Bhopal, 30 December 2010: Madhya Pradesh Government officially celebrated Christmas at Chief Minister’s Residence in Bhopal along with around thousand five hundred Christians from across the state. The venue was decorated with twenty feet height star depicting the life of Christ, Crib, Christmas tree and all around verses from the Bible. This is the first time the State Government organized a Christmas celebration officially at the Chief Minister’s Residence. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in his message exhorted people of the state to follow the way of Lord Jesus. Throughout his speech he quoted many verses from the Bible.

 

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh- Shivraj  Singh Chauhan aling with Rt. Rev. Dr. Leo Cornelio-Archbishop of Bhopal and other community leaders

 

Archbishop Dr. Leo Cornelio thanked the chief minister and the government saying, “It is a great gesture of secularism and cooperation between different religions. Christians will continue to extend hands towards the development of Madhya Pradesh.” The programme started with an opening prayer by Pastor Anil Martin followed by carols, folk dance on the Birth of Christ; children enacted Christmas symbols - angels, Christmas tree, Santa Claus, Christmas star etc. “The programme in the Chief Minister’s Residence is an official recognition of the works of Christians in Madhya Pradesh,  he has made a new history” , said Fr. Anand Muttungal. The programme was attended by all the religious heads, ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, pastors, priests, nuns and many social workers.