India celebrates Easter, PM Modi extends greetings
People offer prayers during an Easter mass at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi on Sunday. (Source: PTI)
Extending Easter greetings to people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cited the teachings of Jesus Christ to pitch for creation of a world that is just and compassionate.
“Easter greetings to everyone. May this day further the spirit of harmony and brotherhood in society,” he tweeted.
Easter greetings to everyone. May this day further the spirit of harmony and brotherhood in society.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 5, 2015
“The teachings of Jesus Christ inspire entire humanity. Let us pledge ourselves to create a world that is just, compassionate and joyful,” he said.
The teachings of Jesus Christ inspire entire humanity. Let us pledge ourselves to create a world that is just, compassionate and joyful.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 5, 2015
Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion to redeem the world, was celebrated all over the Christian-dominated north eastern state of Mizoram with religious solemnity and gaiety by different church denominations.
Band parties of the different corps (local churches) of the Salvation Army ushered in the day this morning by playing ‘He’s Arisen’ and delivering sermons in almost all the street corners since early hours while youth members of the Presbyterian Church organised sunrise service in their respective local churches.
Churches like the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church and the United Pentecostal Church also held praise and worship programme throughout the day and many local churches organised community feasts to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
Christians in Kerala too joined the celebrations of Easter. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and leaders of various political parties greeted Keralites on the occasion.
Christians constitute about 23 per cent of Kerala’s population and are mainly concentrated in the central districts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Thrissur.
Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul Sangma wished that the resurrection day filled the people with the spirit of love, renewed hope and abundant blessings.
Greeting the people of the state on the occasion, Governor K N Tripathy said, “Easter is a festival of hope and resurrection of Christ. I convey my warm greetings … and wish them a holy Easter.”
The Catholic Church organised mass in different cathedrals and community feasts in the local churches as many Catholics, who fasted to signify the sufferings of Christ before and during the crucifixion broke the fast from today.
Senior bishops and priests led the Easter mass and read out the Easter message of hope and spiritual revival.
Breaking the 40-day season of Lent when believers shun worldly pleasures, traditional feasts were arranged in most Christian homes.
Source:: Indian Express
