For Tangkhuls in Chennai, Sunday service at Vepery Gospel Hall is home away from home

These words which mean god, holy, salvation, greeting, blessing and peace in the Tangkhul dialect, are uttered by a congregation of over 100 members from the 2,000-strong Tangkhul community residing in Chennai and is their only connect with their hometown.

Having come to Chennai for various jobs, the Tangkhuls are a Naga ethnic group from the Indo-Myanmar border area, who occupy the Ukhrul district in Manipur as well as the Somra tract hills, Layshi township, Homalin township in Upper Myanmar and Tamu Township in the neighbouring country.

About 800 people from the community are members of the church. The Christian service has been under way since November 2010, when the Tangkhul Baptist Church was established in the city. Led by pastor Nimlei Khamrang for almost a decade now, the congregation has only three paid personnel including the pastor and two home evangelisers. “I’ve been in Chennai for three years now. Although I get along with Tamilians and other people in Chennai, I feel at home when I come to the church on Sundays and spend time with people from my community. When one of us buys a car or has a baby, we immediately come to church to get blessings and share the news with our community,” said Themreiyo, Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Chennai Airport.

Khayaipam, home evangeliser, said, “I came to Chennai ten years ago - it is my home now. However, I feel good coming to church and connecting with my community.” While most attendants of the church are employed and in their thirties, about 30 per cent frequenters are students. A merry retreat called the Youth Camp is organised by the community once a year, on the shores off ECR. Well-earning members act as sponsors for the five-day event.

Themreiyo said, “Manipur doesn’t feel so far away when I come to the church on Sundays. Being here gives me, as well as other attendees, varied in ages and lifestyles, a sense of home.”