Written by Fr. Elvis Fernandes
The Story of Christmas, told through Bharatanatyam and titled “Cradle of Light,” depicted the Nativity stories surrounding the birth of Jesus at Sadbhav Christmas. The celebration was organized by the Society of Pilar at the Horta De Maria, Pilar Pilgrim Centre, Pilar, Goa, on 21st December 2025.
An explosive performance by the quartet of dancers -Impana Kulkarni, Parijat Naik, Srushti Prabhudesai, and Sakshi Borkar – along with meaningful commentary by Swara Prabhudesai from Vyomi Arts Centre, Porvorim, captivated the audience with their stellar performance bringing various nativity stories, based on the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke, to life through Bharatanatyam, a unique classical dance form from Tamil Nadu.
“Through our dance, we aimed to bring the Nativity story to life, showcasing not just the birth of Jesus but the essence of love and hope it represents,” said Impana Kulkarni, the choreographer and director of dance presentation.
Sadbhav Christmas, an interfaith gathering embodying goodwill and harmony, brought together people of different faiths to celebrate Christmas, showcasing unity, peace, and communal harmony through cultural programs like dance and music. As an annual event, the celebration elicited a positive response and was well-appreciated by all those present.
Music director, composer, singer, and actor of the film Claudia, Mukesh Ghatwal, was the Chief Guest. He regaled the audience with a soulful melody that expressed: “Music transcends barriers and speaks to our shared humanity. ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – the whole world is one family – is a message we all need to embrace.”
The guests of honour included Taha Haaziq, Secretary of the Goa State Commission for Disabilities, and Dr. Ida Mukherjee, a mental health professional. Haaziq spoke about the importance of fostering cordial relations between various faith communities in his Christmas message, while Dr. Ida delivered a presentation that effectively highlighted the universal and inclusive nature of Christmas and its celebrations.
Earlier, after lighting the traditional lamp, Fr. Lawrence Fernandes, the Director of the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, welcomed the gathering. Following this, students from Fr. Agnel College of Arts & Commerce, Pilar, sang the Christmas carol “Mari Matek Ballok Zala,” penned by the renowned poet Manohar Rai Sardesai and set to music by Michael Martins. This was followed by students from Fr. Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar, who rendered a Christmas folk song.
The entire program left the audience spellbound, with audiences applauding enthusiastically after each performance. As one audience member reflected, “I feel uplifted today; this event truly showcases the spirit of Christmas.”
The program concluded with mementos being presented to the dignitaries and participants. Sahil Awasthi and Siya Almeida, students of Fr. Agnel College, compered the program, while Fr. Joseph Caji Barreto proposed the vote of thanks
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