Christmas cheer makes comeback in Jesus' birthplace, about 250 Indian pilgrims join festivities

A total of about 250 Indian tourists came this year to attend the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem

The gloom of two years of COVID-19 pandemic has been replaced by cheerful Christmas spirit this year in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, with the return of pilgrims lifting the mood of the locals so heavily dependent on tourism.

Some five groups from different parts of India also joined the celebrations.

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"A total of about 250 Indian tourists came this year to attend the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem. They were joined by many Indians who live here," Ashok Ravi, the CEO of Scopus World Travel Ltd, told PTI.

Father Sleeba Kattumangantu, Cor Episcopa of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Kerala, led a group of 50 pilgrims to Bethlehem who came from Kochi for Christmas.

"We prayed for peace in the Holy Land. We just hope people peacefully resolve their differences," Father Sleeba said.

There is a small community of Syrian Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem and a rather large one in Bethlehem. The Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem also has a prayer hall for the community.