by Kalpit Parajuli

For the past two years, the Christian festivity has been on the national calendar. This year, a number of initiatives in favour of the poor were organised. In the capital, the UN puts on a crafts fair to help marginalised women.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - Nepal is getting ready to celebrate Christmas again. Although largely Hindu, Nepalis can now mark this occasion since the authorities added the most important Christian celebration to the list of national festivities. In addition to the traditional seasonal decorations in homes, stores and hotels, this year has seen a number of charitable initiatives that recapture the feast day's real religious spirit.

Robert Piper, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, inaugurated a Christmas Fair at the start of December. Held in the capital, the fair was put on in cooperation with the Fair Trade Group (FTG) Nepal in order to raise funds for the country's poorest families. It proved a success, not only among Christians (1.5 per cent of the population) but also among Hindus and Buddhists.

"The main objective of the fair is to provide opportunities to marginalised and underprivileged women producers to exhibit their skills in craftworks," FTG Nepal chairman Kiran Khadgi said. "Most of the products are related to Christmas, and are made by Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. With our small exhibit, we try to encourage people to celebrate an occurrence aware of its real value because even a small gift to the poor helps the whole of humanity."

The Christmas message of peace and giving has also spread among Nepalis. Niru Chanda is a 19-year-old Hindu student. She said that for the past four years Christmas has become of the main festivities her female friends follow.

"Although I am Hindu, I am curious about Christmas. Many of my friends and mates in school are Christian and exchanging gifts and best wishes has become a tradition for us. On Christmas night I light candles and pray for peace and my soul's salvation. This gives me hope and courage."

Since Nepal has become a secular state, young people no longer care about differences between Hindus and Christians, Niru noted. "Our wish is to live in harmony and show respect for all religious faiths," she added.

With Christmas generating business activity, Christian minorities have seen their conditions improve, said K.B. Rokaya, a Christian leader.

Although Christians have been targeted in violent actions in the recent past, like the attack against Kathmandu's Catholic cathedral, "For many Hindu families, Christmas has provided a good opportunity to do business at a time of crisis," Rokaya added.

• nepal
• christmas
• celebrations
• christians
• hindus