Easter celebrated with traditional fervour

Services held across twin cities, mass in AJK prays for early success of Kashmir freedom movement

RAWALPINDI: The Christian community on Sunday celebrated Easter with great religious fervour and traditional fanfare in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

People decked in their Sunday best turned out in droves to attend mass and special prayer ceremonies held at all churches in the morning, hours after special midnight services were offered to mark the beginning of Easter celebrations.

The annual festival marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is the culmination of the 40-day lent season, a time of fasting, almsgiving, repentance and spiritual renewal.



Khurram Roshan who lives in Dhoke Syedan said that the community gathers at their homes to share sweets such as kheer to mark the festival. He noted that new clothes are also prepared for children and other family members.

However, Roshan pointed out that Easter celebrations remained muted in his locality on Sunday since they were without power for the entire morning.

Security

The law enforcement agencies, on the other hand, provided tight security to churches where special services were offered.

Civil Lines SHO SI Mian Imran Abbas said that they had taken special security measures at the three major churches located within his jurisdiction to thwart any untoward incident.



He added that they had installed walkthrough gates at the gates of St Paul’s Church, Christ Church and St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral.

Moreover, women constables were also deputed to frisk women before they entered the churches. SI Abbas added that major roads in front of the churches too had been blocked and cars were not allowed to park owing to security reasons.

Easter in AJK

Christians in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) celebrated Easter with religious zeal and fervour.

The Christian community in Mirpur held an Easter Mass and prayed for the early success of the Kashmir freedom movement.

Participants of the Easter Day service prayed for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of the country.

AJK Christian Welfare Society Chairman Reverend Salik Gill told people at a special service in the District Council Hall that minorities in Pakistan, including in AJK, should not lag behind in serving and strive for the progress and prosperity of their homeland.

Reverend Gill added that there were no curbs on religious freedom and that Christians were enjoying a life with equal rights at par with other citizens.

ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2017.