Pray tell, why the great hatred?

Women raise their lit earthen lamps on the banks of the Yamuna river. - AFP filepic

IT was the morning of Dec 25. I was at a relative’ house where prayers – Hindu ones – were being held. Outside, festivities were in the air. It was Christmas, after all.

A group came over to the house, with Merry Christmas greetings and all. Then, they started on their mission, proselytisation. Upset, those in the house shook their heads and things got a little ugly.