Christians Prepare for Good Friday and Easter Sunday During Holy Week
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Synopsis
As Holy Week unfolds, Christians in South India and across the country are preparing for the revered celebrations of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, marked by special services, fasting, and community gatherings.
Key Takeaways
- Celebration of Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
- Significant participation of Kerala's Christian community.
- Traditions include foot washing and preparing Passover bread.
- Prayer services focus on the crucifixion and resurrection of Lord Jesus.
- Many Christians adopt a vegetarian diet during this period.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 17 (NationPress) Christians across South India and the rest of the nation are preparing for two significant celebrations this week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
From Thursday to Easter Sunday morning, many Christians adhere to a strict routine, primarily revolving around the church and prayer sessions as part of the Holy Week.
Out of approximately 3.30 crore Christians in India, around 18 percent reside in Kerala.
Among the 18 percent of Christians in Kerala, 50 percent belong to three different Catholic churches, while the remainder is affiliated with around a dozen local churches.
While each church has its own prayer sessions, many services during Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday share common elements.
Maundy Thursday honors the Last Supper of Lord Jesus Christ with his apostles.
This day marks the occasion when Lord Jesus celebrated his final Passover, which included the washing of his disciples' feet and sharing bread and wine.
Traditional Christian families prepare Passover bread and share it with neighbors.
On this day, Christians attend special church services.
The leaders of various churches in India perform the washing of feet, reenacting Lord Jesus' act of humility and service.
Each church selects about a dozen lay members to participate in this symbolic act.
Starting Thursday, many Christians adopt a vegetarian diet until breakfast on Easter Sunday.
While devout individuals, particularly senior citizens, consume traditional kanji (a watery rice gruel with pulses and pickle), others enjoy rice and vegetables for lunch and dinner.
This year, Good Friday, which falls on April 18, sees Christians worldwide, including those in India, attending special services that commemorate the crucifixion of Lord Jesus.
Most churches conduct six-hour services focused on the last seven sayings of Lord Jesus from the cross, which include moments of forgiveness and communication with God.
Christians believe that Christ Jesus died on the cross to atone for the sins of all humanity, and they observe this day with deep religious reverence and fasting.
Following the Good Friday services, Christians vigilantly pray in churches on Saturday, awaiting the resurrection of Lord Jesus, as promised to his disciples on Easter Sunday.
In Kerala, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are holidays for government offices, whereas most private sector establishments recognize a restricted holiday on Thursday for Christians, while Good Friday is a holiday for all.
Interestingly, for non-Christians, these days bring joy, as most offices are closed from Thursday to Sunday, allowing them to take short trips.
