Missionaries share how they celebrate Christmas in India.

India (MNN)–Hindus make up the majority of India’s religious population.

But during the Christmas season, there are some who will recognize the birth of Christ one way or another. Some are merely looking at the holiday as a commercial season, while others evidence a deeper understanding.

Christmas in India has become more cosmopolitan in recent years, so it isn’t unusual to find the trappings familiar in the West.

For Audio Scripture Ministries’ staff in Bangalore, the local churches have an interesting tradition. ASM’s Tom Dudenhoffer shares a letter detailing how one of their missionaries, ‘JP’, celebrates. “We travel from house to house on an ox-driven cart. Most churches in the city like to carol and so they rent vans, they bring their own musical instruments, and they come at night and sing.”
Dudenhoffer says it’s a good time to be able to freely share the hope of Christ. The local churches are also busy preparing their messages. “The churches also, in the city, tend to have special services. In India, he says, gift giving is kind of rare, although people usually try at least to buy a new set of clothes for the day. Churches also like to have cantatas, choirs, plays, Sunday school services…”