From Sacred Heart Cathedral to local stages, Christmas carols in demand across Capital

With Christmas just days away, the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in Connaught Place has opened its doors for the annual ecumenical Christmas carol, bringing together choir groups from various churches, schools and institutions for evening performances.

Francis Swaminathan, the parish priest of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, said the church started conducting ecumenical carols last year to give visitors a unique experience. “People from various faiths visit the church during the Christmas season. They see the lights and decoration… but I felt that the church looked lifeless because of the absence of service or prayers [carols],” said Mr. Swaminathan.

Among the institutions participating in the choir is the Caleb Institute in Gurugram, Haryana. Nokmachiba Lemtur, the choir director, said his group is participating in such an event for the first time in Delhi. “We got new insights, learnt new ways of worshipping and conducting programs after coming here,” said Mr. Lemtur.

Growing interest

The Capital City Minstrels, a secular, Delhi-based International choir, has been performing in the Capital for over three decades. Reem Khokar, one of the choir singers, said their Christmas concert began the last week of November, weeks before Christmas. She attributed the pre-bookings to Christmas fever reaching early, with malls and markets decorated and lighted.

“From the number of enquiries we receive about the carol schedule, I think the interest has grown over the years,” she said.

Nadya Balyan, head of the Delhi Chamber Choir, a city-based group, said demand for carols has been on the rise. “Nearly two decades ago, carols weren’t that popular. But now, they are in demand everywhere,” she said.

At the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, the ecumenical Christmas carol programme began with Father Nobert Herman, a musician, and the New Delhi Christian Paresis Fellowship singing a Hindi carol, ‘Yeshu mere’ (My Jesus), with a harmonium accompaniment.

( With inputs from Anashwara R)