An annual Christmas programme attended by Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subash Nembang was held in the Capital to observe the festivity. Since the country was declared a secular state in 2006, the government in 2008 decided to announce public holiday on the festival day.

 On the occasion of the festival, President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala extended best wishes to all the Christians in the country and abroad for peace, happiness and prosperity. In the message, the leaders mentioned that the Interim Constitution has guaranteed religious freedom and the festivity will help inspire all to bring stability in the country through a new constitution.

Meanwhile, the Federation of National Christian, Nepal has demanded that the government implement the past agreements reached with the community, including formation of Constitutional Commission on Religion, to institutionalise secularism and religious freedom and proper management and recognition of churches and burial lands, among others.

According to CB Gahatraj, general secretary of the federation, the government has not fully implemented the decisions, including the issues like providing burial grounds for the community. “It is not possible to ensure religious and cultural rights until the government institutionalise secularism in the country,” he said. According to the recent national census, around 1.4 percent of the total 26.6 million people in the country are Christians.