Abu Dhabi: While around 10,000 people were enjoying traditional Indian food and music at the 36th annual harvest festival at St George Orthodox Cathedral in Abu Dhabi on Friday evening, M.V. Koshi, 65, was recounting his first attendance of the festival 32 years ago.
“Then, more than 5,000 people used to be there. Although a traditional festival, fast-food stalls, that made an entry in 2008, and the presence of youngsters with earphones of smartphones plugged to their ears are the changes I have noticed,” said Koshi, who is the secretary of the managing committee of the Indian church.
Yacob Mar Elias Metropolitan of the Brahmavar diocese in India was a special guest at the festival.
Around 1,600 church members and their 4,000 family members start their preparations for the festival two months before, Koshy said. “They contribute money and efforts to prepare traditional food whose sales proceeds go to the church.”
Talking about the togetherness, unity and enthusiasm of joint efforts, he said: “I feel our generation was more dedicated and involved in religious and social activities than this generation because we were not distracted by smartphones and social media. Youngsters are sincere and active but the new devices have limited them in their own world. When they plug their earphones of smart devices, they look disconnected from us, making them more of introverts than our sociable generation,” said Koshy, who is a manager of a private firm.
“Some of us of the old generation are little bit concerned about this trend — whether they will be able to carry our church’s legacy of active religious and social interaction.”
Father M.C. Mathai Maracheril, 57, vicar of the church, said: “Despite the distractions imposed by the technological revolution, the youngsters are more innovative and creative than the previous generation. They bring new ideas and novel concepts, probably due to their exposure to the world through social media and other new avenues.”
The church’s youth movement is very active and they conceptualised plays, skits and stories to introduce old traditions to young children. “The way they linked the old and the new in an interesting manner in those art forms offers hope of their ability, creativity and innovation,” Maracheril said.
A newcomer from India was surprised to see the large crowd at a church festival in a Muslim country. “Back home the harvest festival is a continuous ritual as farmers bring their first harvest to the church on Sundays and sell it at auction, and the money goes to the church,” said Mijesh Daniel, 26, who is taking up a new job in Abu Dhabi.
“Here it is more of selling prepared foods and other products. As there are no farmers in the community here, I am happy to see that they are putting their money and efforts to keeping that tradition in a foreign land,” Daniel said.
