Tracing Christianity's roots in Secunderabad's cultural mosaic

HYDERABAD: The melodious notes of carols filled Hyderabad’s air on Wednesday as the Christian community got ready to usher in the festival of joy — Christmas. But the celebrations, while upholding old traditions, are also set to see a generous dose of local customs, given that the community — which currently accounts for about 1.4% of the state’s population — has been living in the Deccan region for generations. Old-timers and historians recall how Christianity in the region grew through Catholic, Protestant, Presbyterian and Anglican missions, along with the Anglo-Indian community that developed around British cantonments and the railways, right from the early 16th century. Secunderabad Cantonment was among the earliest centres of Christian settlement, with nearby areas such as Trimulgherry, Bolarum and parts of Malkajgiri evolving as residential clusters during the colonial period. Unlike in some other regions, missionaries in Hyderabad were permitted by the Nizams to establish institutions. Schools, colleges and hospitals run by Christian organisations came up across the city and districts, many of which continue to serve the wider public. “Many of the earliest churches in and around Secunderabad came up because this was where the cantonment was. People working with the railways and the military settled here, and churches naturally followed. Education and healthcare were the two areas where the community became deeply connected with everyday life in the city,” said Ajit Alexander from CSI St John the Baptist Church, Secunderabad. Over generations, Christian practices in Telangana absorbed strong local influences. Telugu gradually became the dominant language of worship, especially outside cantonment areas. “Even when English or Latin was used earlier, Telugu slowly took over. Today, most prayers, sermons and hymns are in Telugu because that is how people connect. There are also churches where practices are conducted in Tamil, Malayalam and other languages,” said Anuradha Reddy from INTACH, tracing the history of Christianity in Telangana. For instance, St Luke’s Hindustani Church in Abids, dating back to 1905, conducts its services in Urdu and Hindi, while Centenary Baptist Church, built in 1875 by soldiers of the Madras Regiment, draws people from diverse communities such as Maharashtrians, Tamilians, Malayalis, Gujaratis and Biharis. “In fact, these communities are actively preparing for Christmas by practising carols in their respective languages to be sung on the festive day,” said Shelas Alex, a techie from Kerala currently staying in Tarnaka, who attends the Centenary Baptist Church. Beyond language, other practices have also absorbed elements from local culture. At Wesley Church, established in 1916, churchgoers remove their footwear outside, in contrast to the traditional Christian custom of wearing shoes indoors. Christmas celebrations, too, follow local rhythms. Along with midnight Mass or prayer services, families prepare regional dishes and share food with neighbours. “We celebrate Christmas with traditional Telangana food at home, such as pachaddis, sambar, rasam and, of course, biryani, along with cakes and other dishes. After church, there is always food-sharing, and neighbours from different communities drop in,” said Marie B, a 27-year-old Sunday school teacher. Stars hung outside homes, community prayers and small neighbourhood gatherings are common across older Christian settlements. “It has never been only about the church. Christmas is also about community, about people coming together,” Marie added.