India celebrates the risen Christ on Easter Sunday

Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion, was celebrated with fervor and gaiety across the country on Sunday, April 8, 2007.

Thousands of Christians thronged cathedrals and churches as senior prelates and bishops led the services and gave sermons, marking the end of the Lent season of fasting and penance.

In the capital, about 5000 faithful attended the midnight mass held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, lighting candles and singing hymns. While Delhi Archbishop Vincent Concessao led the prayers urging the believers to receive the "new fire" which symbolises the risen Christ, Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, an adept musician, joined the church choir during the mass.

In Kerala, Governor R.L. Bhatia, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Leader of Opposition Ommen Chandy greeted the people on the occasion.

While in Kochi, the head of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, Catholicose Baselios Mar Cleemis, led the services in St. Mary's Cathedral, in Thiruvananthapuram. Archbishop M. Susaipakiam led the prayers in St. Joseph's Cathedral.

In Shillong and Aizawl, the state capitals of Meghalaya and Mizoram, large crowds gathered in churches where morning prayer meetings were held to mark the beginning of Easter.

Christians sang, prayed and listened to special Easter sermons from priests and pastors recalling that Christ, crucified on Friday, had risen from the dead on a Sunday morning by overcoming death.

Special choir arrangements were made and plays highlighting the significance of Christ's resurrection, were enacted by the Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Church of God, Baptist Church and Church of North India to mark the special day.

In Agartala, the capital of the northeastern state of Tripura, Christian worshippers gathered in the Saint Joseph Church for the 'holy fire' ritual, singing hymns and praying for world peace. The priests dressed in their orthodox robes lighted the 'holy fire' and passed it around to the hundreds of faithful waiting with candles, filling the church with light and smoke.

"Christ means peace. Jesus brings peace into our hearts and my wish and prayer is that may the light of Christ, may this new hope that Jesus Christ beings, bring peace to our state particularly in our villages," Father M.C. George of Saint Joseph Church said, adding that the light symbolizes "Christianity."

In Orissa, sunrise prayers were conducted in churches to commemorate Easter even as large crowds continued to attend mass in churches across the state during the day.

While prominent evangelist Rajkumar Ramchandran addressed huge congregations in Bhubaneswar, urging the believers to resemble the image of Christ, kirtan processions were organised by Christian groups at several places including Cuttack and Sambalpur.

In Mumbai, Easter Sunday was celebrated with Christians gathering in churches and singing hymns in praise of the risen Lord.

In Panjim, Goa, hundreds of believers gathered in the famous Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, taking part in elaborate rituals and prayers.

In Kolkata, St. John's Church, St. Paul's Cathedral, Assembly of God (AG) Church and the Armenian Church witnessed large turnouts as devotees chanted hymns and prayed. Some churches also organized candlelight processions in the early hours of Sunday.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa greeted the Christians on the eve of Easter, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In a message, Karunanidhi, recalling Jesus' preachings of love and affection, wished the Christians peace, love, wealth and prosperity.

Jesus, taught the people love and endurance and preached peace, he said and quoted Jesus having said "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the one of the least of the brothers of mine, you did for me."

AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa also greeted Christians on the eve of Easter. "On this occasion, let us pray that peace, love, happiness and unity be fostered all over the world," she said in a message.