Christmas Joy Dimmed as Vandalism Forces Mass Cancellation in Nalbari

​The holiday season is meant to be a time of peace, carols, and community. For the residents of Nalbari in Assam, however, the spirit of Christmas was met with a harsh and unexpected blow this year. What should have been a midnight filled with prayers and celebration at St. Mary's English School turned into a scene of fear and destruction. Following a violent intrusion by a fundamentalist mob on Christmas Eve, the school authorities were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to cancel the traditional Christmas Mass.

​This incident has left the local community in shock. St. Mary's is not just a building; it is a center for education that has served around 1,000 students since it opened its doors in 2010. The sight of festive decorations being torn down and burned has raised serious questions about the safety of minority institutions and the state of communal harmony in the region.

​A Quiet Afternoon Shattered

​The trouble began on Wednesday afternoon, December 24, 2025. While the rest of the town was preparing for the evening's festivities, a group of about nine to twenty individuals, reportedly affiliated with the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad, stormed the premises of St. Mary's English School in Panigaon village.

​At around 2:30 pm, the group entered the campus demanding to see the school principal, Father Baiju Sebastian. Since the school was closed for the winter holidays, the principal was away attending an official meeting with the District Commissioner. In his absence, the mob confronted the religious sisters and a regent brother who were present on the campus. The atmosphere quickly turned from a verbal confrontation to one of physical aggression as the group became agitated.

​The Destruction of Festive Symbols

​What followed was a targeted attack on the symbols of the festival. Witnesses and videos circulating on social media show the intruders tearing down Christmas banners and posters. They didn't stop there. The nativity crib, a central part of the Christmas display, was dismantled and vandalized.

​LED bulbs used to light up the school were pulled down, and decorative plant pots were smashed. Perhaps most distressing was the sight of the group gathering these festive items and setting them on fire in the schoolyard. While the flames rose, the group reportedly shouted slogans like "Jai Shri Ram" and "Jai Hindu Rashtra," creating an atmosphere of intimidation that was felt far beyond the school gates.

​Beyond the School Gates

​The violence of the day was not confined to St. Mary's School. After leaving the campus, the same group moved into Nalbari town. They targeted local shops and marketplaces where Christmas merchandise was being sold.

​Shopkeepers who had stocked Santa caps, masks, and small Christmas trees watched in horror as the activists seized their goods. These items were thrown into drains or set ablaze right in front of the shops near the Jain Mandir area. One shopkeeper expressed his confusion, stating he had no idea that selling Christmas decorations could lead to such a violent backlash. The message from the group was clear: they did not want "non-Indian" festivals celebrated or monetized in their town.

​The Heavy Decision to Cancel Mass

​By the time the sun set on Christmas Eve, the damage was done. The physical destruction of the decorations was one thing, but the psychological impact on the small Christian community in Nalbari was even deeper. St. Mary's operates in an area where there is almost no local Catholic population; the institution primarily serves the wider community through education.

​Given the threats made by the mob—warning the school not to hold any Christmas programs—the authorities felt they had no choice. To ensure the safety of the staff, the few local worshippers, and the religious sisters living on campus, the scheduled Christmas Mass was cancelled. For many, this was a moment of deep sadness, as the one time of year dedicated to peace was silenced by the threat of further violence.

​Law Enforcement Steps In

​As the news spread, the police in Nalbari took action. Senior Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das confirmed that a formal complaint was lodged by Father Baiju Sebastian. Following an investigation into the video evidence and eyewitness accounts, the police registered a case at the Belsor Police Station.

​By Thursday, December 25, four individuals had been arrested in connection with the vandalism. Those held include the District Secretary of the VHP, the Vice-President of the VHP, and the District Convenor of the Bajrang Dal. The police have used sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to charge them with unlawful entry, property damage, and intimidation. While the arrests provide some sense of accountability, the community remains on edge, fearing that the roots of this intolerance run deep.

​A Subdued Christmas for Assam

​The incident in Nalbari was part of a broader somber mood across Assam this year. In Guwahati and other districts, Christmas celebrations were already scaled back due to the recent passing of the legendary singer Zubeen Garg. The news from Nalbari only added to the apprehension.

​Leaders of the Assam Christian Forum expressed their anguish, noting that such acts are foreign to the inclusive culture of Assam. They called for a return to the ethos of unity inspired by figures like Srimanta Sankardev. Meanwhile, political leaders have condemned the "politics of hatred," with many calling for a tougher law to protect places of worship and religious rituals from such desecration.

​Looking Toward the Future

​The vandalism at St. Mary's is more than just a story about broken decorations. It is a reminder of how easily peace can be disrupted when a small group decides to impose its will through force. As the Bongaigaon Diocese marks its 25th anniversary, this event serves as a difficult chapter in its long history of service to the people of Assam.

​Despite the fear, the message from church sources has been one of calm and prayer. They have expressed a firm commitment to continue their work in education and social outreach, refusing to let one act of violence define their relationship with the community. The hope now lies in the hands of the law and the resilience of the people to ensure that next year, the bells of St. Mary's can ring out for Christmas without fear.