Chin Christian leaders have cancelled plans for a Christmas and New Year celebrations in Hakha for a third year in a row following the pandemic outbreak and military coup last year.
Due to political unrest in the state, which has seen intense fighting between the Burma Army and resistance groups, religious leaders are urging Christians to scale back celebrations once again this year.
Despite the importance of the Christmas holiday, which celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ, pastors in the Chin State capital agreed to cancel mass celebrations after meeting on 11 November to discuss the matter.
In a statement, believers were asked not to decorate churches and wards in the town and not to hold dinner parties. Instead, people were asked to gather in the churches for prayers.
“We also ask our followers to not to sing Christmas carols during the Christmas and New Year period…They can decorate their house and inside the church,” a Christian pastor from Hakha told Khonumthung News, wishing to remain anonymous.