Dilip Guha ★ New Delhi : Christmas Eve was celebrated with due solemnity on Wednesday, the 24th December 2025, at the Vivekananda Auditorium immediately after the evening Arati.
An interfaith gathering hosted by the Ramakrishna Mission in Delhi brought together distinguished religious leaders, United Nations representatives, and members of diverse faith communities to mark Christmas Eve with prayers for unity and healing.
The Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, widely recognized as unique symbols of harmony among faiths, observe Christmas Eve by honoring the life and spirit of Lord Jesus Christ. The celebration emphasizes worship, the reception of divine blessings, and the reaffirmation of core human values such as love, compassion, unity, and service. The occasion is observed with due solemnity, reflecting the spiritual significance of the day.
Christmas Eve occupies a special place in the tradition of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission and is celebrated distinctively across almost all its centers. In most branches, the observance is held in the main temple, underscoring the organization’s deep reverence for the teachings of Jesus Christ and its commitment to the ideal of the unity of religions.
The Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi, has a long-standing tradition of celebrating Christmas Eve grandly and inclusively. Each year, the Archbishop of Delhi and other eminent religious leaders and dignitaries participate in the celebration. This year’s event was held at the Vivekananda Auditorium on the Mission premises and featured elaborate decorations and illumination of the entire temple complex.
The celebration closely resembles that of prominent churches in the city, with Christmas carols, candle lighting, prayers, and offerings of cakes. The temple was beautifully decorated, and images of Baby Jesus and Lord Jesus Christ were placed on a specially arranged altar for worship. A monk performed a special Christmas Eve arati with candles and offered cakes and biscuits to Christ as part of the ritual.
On Christmas Eve, some eminent speakers and spiritual leaders had taken time out of their busy schedules to join the gathering in the evening. Later at night, most of them went on to celebrate Christmas at the Midnight Mass in their respective places of worship.
The program began with the lighting of candles and offerings to Lord Jesus Christ by a monk, accompanied by recorded Christmas carols during the candlelight arati. This was followed by a reading from the New Testament. Rev. Swami Sarvalokananda, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, formally welcomed the gathering.
Five distinguished speakers representing different faith traditions addressed the audience on the occasion.
Among the dignitaries present were the Most Reverend Father Archbishop of Delhi Dr. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Dr. M. D. Thomas, Founder Director, Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi; Dr. R. R. Bhaskar, Presbyterian Priest in-charge, St. John’s Church, Mehrauli, New Delhi; Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Judah Hyam Synagogue, New Delhi; and Dr. A. K. Merchant, Secretary, Baha’i Spiritual Assembly of Delhi NCT. Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and UNICEF also attended, underscoring the global significance of the gathering.
The speakers highlighted the significance of Christmas and the enduring relevance of Jesus Christ’s message in contemporary life.
In his inaugural address, Swami Sarvalokananda Maharaj said that the birth and life of Jesus Christ continue to inspire humanity to follow the ideals of love, compassion, brotherhood, and selfless service. He noted that Christmas Eve is celebrated every year at Ramakrishna Mission centers across the world. Addressing a frequently asked question on why a Hindu monastic organization celebrates Christmas, he explained that Hinduism upholds the principle of sarva dharma samabhava—the harmony of all religions.
Elaborating further, he cited Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893, where he declared that Hinduism not only believes in universal tolerance but also accepts all religions as true. He also spoke about Swami Vivekananda’s deep reverence for Jesus Christ, whom he regarded as one of humanity’s greatest spiritual leaders. Vivekananda held Christ’s teachings to be universal and timeless, transcending religious boundaries. In today’s world, marked by violence, conflict, and insecurity, the message of love and compassion exemplified by Jesus Christ, he said, is more relevant than ever and has the power to heal divisions and guide humanity toward peace.
Swami Sarvalokananda Maharaj also recalled that Christmas Eve holds special significance for the Ramakrishna Order, as Swami Vivekananda and his brother disciples took a historic vow of renunciation and service to humanity on this very day. He described Christmas as a celebration of human values that foster mutual care, sharing, and the transformation of life itself into a joyful spiritual festival.
The event featured an address by Dr. A. K. Merchant, Secretary of the Baháʼí Spiritual Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, who emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue and the shared responsibility of spiritual traditions in addressing global crises.
Dr. Merchant reflected on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, noting that while his birth was celebrated centuries later, it was his resurrection and sacrifice for humanity that became central to Christian belief. He drew parallels with other prophets and spiritual leaders across traditions, stressing that each has awakened humanity and contributed to its moral and spiritual progress.
Speaking as a member of the Bahá’í community, Dr. Merchant highlighted the Bahá’í belief in the progressive and continuous nature of religion. He recalled the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Delhi on Christmas Eve in 1986, and quoted Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings: “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens” and “Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”
Dr. Merchant prayed for unity and healing, offered in both Hindi and English for the strengthening of human bonds, the healing of divisions, and the guidance of divine wisdom in overcoming crises. The gathering reaffirmed the shared vision of the oneness of God, the oneness of religions, and the oneness of humankind.
Oh my God! OH my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord.
Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Bahá’u’lláh
He urged humanity to transcend barriers of race, caste, nationality, and identity, which continue to divide societies and fuel conflict.
He said, “On this auspicious Christmas Eve, as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ, we also reflect upon the sacrifice and the boundless love that He showered upon humanity. May His example inspire us to become better human beings and encourage us to reflect deeply on the path we are headed toward. These are the prayers we offer every day at the Lotus Temple. The message that everyone receives is the oneness of God, the oneness of all religions, and the oneness of humankind.”
Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar of the Judah Hyam Synagogue in New Delhi had often spoken about interfaith harmony, drawing parallels between the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and the message of Jesus Christ. His speeches emphasize the oneness of God, the unity of religions, and shared values of compassion and service, resonating with Vivekananda’s reflections on Christ as “the great soul, the Messenger. Rabbi Malekar’s speeches weave together Vivekananda’s Vedantic vision of Christ with Jewish values of unity and compassion, reminding audiences that all religions share the same divine light.
Today, Christmas Eve is observed with reverence and solemnity at more than 220 centres of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission spread across 23 countries, reaffirming their enduring commitment to interfaith harmony and universal spiritual values.
The Christmas Eve evening at the Ramakrishna Mission in Delhi concluded in a spirit of unity and love.
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