Bengaluru: Almost 175 inmates of an orphanage had a different experience of Christmas celebration this year. Tefilah Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. celebrates Christmas every year for its vendors, customers, benefactors, well wishes, special invitees and friends at its office. This year the same group of people who include corporates was invited to the orphanage of St. Patrick’s Church, Bengaluru for the celebration on Friday, December 18. (Tefilah in Hebrew means prayer).

This was the first time the children ranging from primary section to Class 10 had such a scintillating experience, some of them admitted. All the children were given gifts and six of them who excelled in studies, sports and extra-curricular activities were presented with special prizes. They participated in singing carol and action songs besides Christmas numbers by Jaison and team. Those distributed prizes included cricketer Robin Uthappa, Mrs Ranjit Lall and Swamy Paramanda from UP. The children also staged a skit, depicting the nativity and other biblical themes.

Pastor Hemant Peter giving a message on the occasion said Christmas is a time for giving and sharing. Jesus was born in a manger at Bethlehem to convey this message of love and to cultivate the spirit of sharing whatever we have with the needy. To drive home his point, he had brought three gifts – one a big and shining packet wrapped in a glossy gift paper; the second, a medium-sized gift wrapped in colourful paper and the third was a small packet covered in white paper. When opened, the big glittering packet was empty; the second had something not of high value and the third looking unattractive and small had the costliest gift inside – a mobile. The lesson is ‘all that glitters is not gold’. We should not judge anything and anyone from the appearance. What is most important is the value inside which is our heart.

As the outside show can be misleading and is not the reality, we have to look inward and search our hearts for values and merits. What one cherishes in the heart is more important than what appears and what is displayed, Pastor Hemanth, a senior pastor, said. Quoting the Bible (Gospel of John), he posed a question: Why Jesus was born in a manger. He said, it was for everyone to have access to Jesus. The then king searched for Jesus in the palace but he was not found in a palace. He was born in a manger because even a king and even an ordinary person are able to meet and encounter Jesus .Thus, Jesus is accessible to all. God loves us and wants all to give love to one another without the outside wrapping.

Mr Siddhartha Gupta, the Managing Director of the Company, Tefilah Infrastructure, which hosted and arranged the celebration, speaking on the occasion exhorted the children to be diligent in their studies and other duties they are entrusted with. Gupta who has a heart for children and goes out of his way to do whatever required and needed for different orphanages and institutions expressed that he was happy to be with them along with people from different parts of the country. The children in response to his question said they were overjoyed and elated about the get-together and celebration with the Company’s guests and invitees. Mr Gupta who is the architect and visionary of founding other sister Companies to protect nature and environment has conducted similar types of programmes and celebrations for children in villages as well. Among others who assist him include Mr. George Santhosh, vice president, operations.

The children also enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and the Santa Claus distributing gifts. At one stage, the children were euphoric and jubilant with gifts in hands and with announcement of dinner.

The Christmas programme celebrated with the orphans was unique indeed and in a class by itself, whispered many a guest as they were wishing good bye and carrying a gift for themselves as well. All look forward for the next Christmas to compare with the previous ones.

Mr Greg D’sa, an eloquent and expressive event manager who was the master of ceremony made the programme more meaningful and significant with his lucidity and free style, particularly for a programme of such a mixed group.