Jishu Nila, a popular Lenten folk play, is a traditional means of preaching the Good News, to infuse spirituality and devotion by presenting the Bible in a lively way.
It is believed that the preaching of Dom Antonio in the 18th century strongly influenced the plays and songs composed by Peter Dominic Rozario.
Antonio was the son of a Hindu zamindar (landlord). He was kidnapped by pirates from Arakan (present-day Rakhine) and sold to Portuguese merchants.
A Portuguese Jesuit rescued him and he became a Christian, adopting the name Dom Antonio. Under influence of the Jesuits he became an evangelist.
As a part of his preaching, he composed religious songs based on the catechism and Biblical stories and performed them with dance in the Bhawal and Atharogram areas.
His unique evangelization methods are credited for the conversion of 30,000-40,000 lower caste Hindus in 1720-60s and establishing these areas as Catholic strongholds.
(Photos and text by ucanews.com)