Continuing to celebrate Indian Christian Day/ Yeshu Bhakti Divas – July 3rd each year

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Many churches used to celebrate July 3rd as St. Thomas Day, to commemorate the apostle Thomas who arrived in India in 52 AD and was martyred in 72 AD near Chennai.

There was a feeling that the celebration should be extended, specifically to include the many followers of Jesus in India who are not Christians. Also to counteract the misinformation that the good news of Jesus the Lord was introduced to India by European colonialists.

Therefore, on July 3rd, 2021, a full range of Christian churches, denominations and groups came together with Hindu followers of Jesus the Lord to initiate Indian Christian Day/Yeshu Bhakti Divas (ICD/YBD) and to launch a Decade of Celebration to highlight the impact of the person and message of the Lord Jesus Christ on India over the last two
thousand years, and to showcase the ongoing contribution of his followers and devotees to the development and nation building of India.

The ten years (2021-2030) will lead to honoring the 2000th anniversary of the public ministry of Jesus the Lord. Indians, and people of Indian heritage abroad, are involved in these celebrations throughout India and abroad.

This counteracts untruths with solidarity and hope, makes generational impact and creates national recognition, while preserving our identity within the Indian cultural heritage, and promoting unity in India.

Any group (local, regional or global) can design its own July 3rd celebrations each year in ways appropriate to its context, as long as they align with the Vision – and maintain the ICD/YBD logo in the appropriate regional, linguistic and cultural equivalent.

However large or small, celebrations must express publicly at least ONE ACT OF LOVE AND KINDNESS to bless the community outside the local church/fellowship, must encourage inclusion of different languages and traditions, and must be absolutely non-political, nonpartisan and non-sectarian.

The goal is that every Indian disciple of Jesus will join to celebrate Indian-ness and devotion to Lord Jesus Christ.

To join the movement, get updates, guidelines and the ICD/YBD logo, go to: www.indianchristianday.com Or send questions to: indianchristianday@gmail.com.