HYDERABAD: The 2,000-year-old Bethlehem is right here in the city, courtesy of a Christmas drive through which one can witness the “enactment”. Sounds incredible? Well, the thrill is taking the drive and experiencing it in all its glory. An idea that cropped up during the 2020 lockdown period, the ‘Christmas Drive thru' Bethlehem’ has taken shape at the New Life AG Church in Kompally.
Youths from the church who floated the idea came up with a depiction by way of twelve different stations/stopovers, where the story of the Jesus’ birth prophecy till the crucifixion can be viewed as one’s car drives through specially-designed road across the 14-acre premises. Reconstructed in an amazing manner one can actually feel Bethlehem of 2,000 years old with hundreds of church members enacting the events as they unfolded with animals adding a realistic element.
On Saturday, families in around 1,000 cars “witnessed” the biblical event unfolding itself right in front of their eyes. Organisers expect more spectators on Sunday.
Suzanna Sulekha, corporate employee, “This has been a lifetime experience. The 30-minute drive has brought back life of those times, including the events that took place in Bethlehem.”
School teacher Christina Clementia said, “The enactments were so real that our eyes were filled with tears. Hats-off to the artists who were amazing and which left us spellbound as our car passed each stage.”
Samuel Bojja, one of the organizers, said “this idea popped up during 2020 Christmas, when Covid restrictions were imposed. The concept is repeated on Saturday and Sunday.”
He added, “It takes you back to the first Christmas story in Bethlehem. It promises to be a fun-filled evening of music, dance, drama and great food and family time.”
