Nagpur: Now in its ninth year, the annual rally declaring the arrival of Christmas is set to take off. This Sunday, starting 2pm, several Christians will take to the streets to share the message of Jesus Christ. Being hosted by National Council for Churches in India, which is headquartered in Nagpur, the rally will be flagged off from St Ursula High School premises, Civil Lines and will conclude at the same venue.
Members of Roman Catholic, Protestants and Pentecostal churches will come together for the occasion. "The birth and life of Christ will be depicted in the rally through different floats. His birth, his work on earth for three and a half years, his crucifixion, burial and resurrection — all on wheels for 20 kms in the city. We will declare his message: to save the mankind," says pastor Debashish Dubey, who initiated the rally as part of United Nagpur Movement, started to unite people of all churches in the city.
Flags representing the community will be held up in the air, being taken in two wheelers and four wheelers. It will pass through Civil Lines to reach Indora Square and turn right on Panchpaoli and will take road to reach Medical College square, again Rahate Colony Square and to Shankar Nagar via Lokmat Square to Law College and back to St Ursula via Variety Square and RBI.
Unlike each year, a small deviation will be seen this time to avoid clashes with other rally and owing to metro construction. "Instead of Dharampeth to Law College Square, we will be taking a right from Alankar Talkies to Bhole Petrol Pump Square, and moving towards Variety Square," said Dubey.
Yeshumitra award will be given by organizations United Christmas Celebration and Deenbandhu Ministry, in collaboration with NCCI. 16 prominent people, irrespective of their backgrounds, will be feted for their services. General secretary of NCCI, Rev Dr Roger Gaikwad will be deliver a speech. A tribute will also be paid to late RM Thakur and Sudhir Martil for their contribution. The rally will conclude by 6pm.
Mumbai based Anil Kant will then take over the celebrations and deliver a satsang for the participants at the ground of St Ursula School. He will be preaching about the message of Jesus. 232 places of worship in the city form a part of the NCCI Nagpur.
