Hyderabad: The Harvest Festival, also known as the Annual Thanksgiving, is being celebrated across churches from mid-October to mid-November, with each parish observing it according to convenience. During the celebration, the faithful bring their best produce or yield to the church as an offering at the altar, continuing a tradition that began in rural India and still thrives in urban congregations today.
According to Vimal Sukumar, treasurer of the Church of South India (CSI), “Even Anglican churches in the city, such as the Church of St. John the Baptist and St. George’s Church, actively take part in the Harvest Festival. This celebration preserves our Indian identity, reminding us that our forefathers were dependent on agriculture and cattle rearing. People bring the best of their harvest and offer it at the altar as an expression of gratitude.”
Rev. Gollapalle David Prashanth of the Baptist Church, Narayanguda, shared, “We have around 12,000 members, and most of them participated in this year’s Harvest Festival. It is essentially a time to thank God for His provisions throughout the year.”
Adding to this, William Kumar, assistant general secretary of the Methodist Churches in India, said, “The Thanksgiving service at Centenary Methodist Telugu Church was a special gathering focused on expressing gratitude to God for His blessings. It was joyful, reflective, and filled with praise. Bishop Simeon’s message centred on acknowledging God’s faithfulness.”
Apart from the worship service, several engaging activities form part of the annual Thanksgiving. Jessi Jeremiah, who served as auctioneer for the evening, said, “Members donate from their harvest or bring items in kind. These are auctioned off, and the bidders often pay generously, knowing the proceeds go toward the church’s charity works.”
At the food stalls set up by church members, women served traditional and regional delicacies. Sharlet William, who managed one of the stalls, said, “I prepared Thepla, a traditional Gujarati dish, as I am from Gujarat.” Other stalls offered chicken Arabian Mandi, chicken snacks, Pooran Poli, Tilkka Pav, club sandwiches, cakes, and handicrafts made by women parishioners.
