Christmas Festivities have taken a big hit this year. Due to pandemic no major celebrations are likely and even Church services on December 25 will be online. New Delhi YMCA has decided to go for a unique online event which will be exclusively for Pipe Organists.

Pipe Organ is the largest musical instrument mainly installed in churches. In the unique online event, ``Christmas Music on Pipe Organ’’, eight organists will play Christmas music at five different locations in India while one German organist will perform at Bonn, Germany.

The event will be live on Zoom platform (Meeting ID: 974 2305 6442 Passcode: 855333) and will be simultaneously stream live and Facebook also.

"It is a matter or great honour for us that the cream of Indian organists and a world class performer from Germany has agreed to perform for us,’’ said Norris Pritam, Vice President of New Delhi YMCA and one of the members of the organsing committee.

On December 12, pipe organists at various churches at Ranchi, Secundrabad, Lucknow, Delhi and Bengaluru will play Christmas music exclusively on heritage pipe organs.

Markus Kras, a world-class concert performer and a teacher will join the seven Indians from Bonn.

Rajdeep Singh and Manish Ecka will perform at churches at Ranchi while Ms Lydia Joan will play at the historic Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi.

Retd Naval Commander T M J Champion (VSM) and Joshua Virender, a senior music teacher will perform at Secundrabad while Andrew Bhagyanathan will be playing on 1818 vintage pipe organ at St Andrew Church in Bengaluru.

Usually youngsters go door-to-door at night singing Christmas carols. But this year there will be no carol singing, at least in groups or by choirs.

In the National Capital the Festival of Choirs used to be a major event during the Christmas week. For years New Delhi YMCA has been organising the event in which eight to ten choirs used to perform. It was a much sought after event in Delhi. But sadly, this year there will be no such festival.

"Initially we were sad that there will be no major event and therefore we planned an online event. But seeing the response I can say we did the right thing and I am sure our online musical is going to be a big hit,’’ said Mr Mark Clive, General Secretary of the New Delhi YMCA.