Jamshedpur, April 17: Christians across the city offered special prayers in churches on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
People in large numbers visited St. Mary’s Church in Bistupur, St. George’s Church in Northern Town and St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Golmuri and other churches to attend the morning mass today. The Roman Catholic Churches organised a midnight mass that started around 11:30 pm yesterday. The rituals started with the blessing of the candle followed by the Easter vigil mass.
The churches since yesterday were decorated with colourful lights. Members of the Christian community lit candles and offered prayers at various churches in the city. Easter hymns and Easter songs were also sung at the prayer service.
“Easter Sunday is the central religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. Lord Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion and this signifies the concept of life after death. This means death is not the end. People do give Easter eggs as a resemblance of the tomb of Jesus Christ as there is life in eggs,” said Father David Vincent, vicar general of the Jamshedpur Diocese. He added that, “Easter is an occasion of rejoicing, thanks giving and sacrifice to the teachings of Christ.”
Christian families offer sweet bread to Jesus Christ on Thursday (before the Good Friday) as a mark of the last supper when Christ had dinner with all his devotees. The rituals of Easter start about three days prior as part of the rituals. On Saturday, the Christians observed a no celebration to mourn the death of their saviour.
Families also visited graveyards to remember their loved ones on Sunday which also forms an important part of Easter celebrations. People also made a beeline to the bakeries to get their share of Easter cakes and Easter eggs. An Easter Peace rally will also be taken out under the banner of ‘Christians of Jamshedpur’ tomorrow.
The rally, which started in 2006 is being organised by all the 45 churches under the banner and 10 NGOs. More than 2000 people are expected to participate in the rally that starts at 8:30 am. Bishop will lead the rally and also will deliver the Easter peace Rally address after the procession culminates back at Loyola School.
“Our motto has been international peace and the rally was organised so that we can for peace under the vast open sky. We invite all organisations to come and join hands with us,” said an official of the Christians of Jamshedpur.
