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Images: Celebrating Christmas with joy, sorrow
On high alert: Police officers conduct a security check inside the Jawi Wetan Christian Church in Kediri city, East Java, on Wednesday
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span class="inline inline-center">On high alert: Police officers conduct a security check inside the Jawi Wetan Christian Church in Kediri city, East Java, on Wednesday. The measure was taken as part of local police efforts to sterilize all the churches in the area on the eve of Christmas celebrations on Thursday.
Millions of Christians in Indonesia, the home to the world's biggest Muslim population, celebrated Christmas peacefully and joyfully.
Many more millions of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists across the country conveyed their greetings to fellow Christian friends on the occasion of the festival. It has been a common practice for Christians in Indonesia to greet fellow Muslim friends on Idul Fitri, the biggest Muslim festival.
Tolerance, pluralism, mutual respect and living in harmony are the hall marks of Indonesian society and its state ideology Pancasila. Some extremist elements tried to do damage to these noble values by spreading hatred and tried to divide people on communal lines in the past. But love prevails. Irrespective of their religious affiliations, people united as one nation under the red and white flag. Thanks to Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's administration, police and military personnel, people had a peaceful Christmas celebration in the country.
Members of Banser, an organization linked to Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, have volunteered to guard churches. Their act is highly commendable. That is the spirit of Indonesia.
On Christmas morning, millions of people thronged to the churches to participate in services. People exchanged greetings, brightly wrapped gifts and enjoyed festive foods. The whole day was a time of loving and forgiving.
Like in many years, mother nature has not been friendly to human beings this year either. Several Christians celebrated Christmas as usual despite severe floods in many parts of Java.
In some areas, some churches still faced difficulties in hosting Christmas services due to problems related to building permits.
Overall, the first Christmas under Jokowi was peaceful.
' Text by JP/Veeramalla Anjaiah
