Renewed hope: This Easter, prayers for a good PM to be elected
Service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral wishes well for all.
People listen to prayers at a communion service in Urdu at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/ EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The city’s residents may belong to different faiths, but they are united by one hope - as the general elections draw closer, prayers for a capable and honest prime minister have not only become common across Karachi’s mosques but its churches as well.
On Easter Sunday, a communion service was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral at which people, led by Rt Rev. Sadiq Daniel, prayed that great leaders get elected to power in the upcoming elections with the “capacity to take the entire country forward”. Rev. Shahid Shabir and Rev. TK Kim also wished happiness for all the people in the world, no matter which religion they practiced.
After the service, people gathered outside the cathedral to catch up with one another. Most of the conversations hovered around the looming examinations and how nice it was for the children to get a break before they begin hitting the books.
Cyrus Jonathan, a boy dressed sharply in a crisp pink shirt and khaki pants, was meandering his way through the crowd, shaking hands with as many people as he could. “I’d just like to wish all my cousins, friends and everyone else in the country a happy Easter.” His sister, Jessica Rose, said that Easter marked the birth of new hope and so she had been wishing “everything work out fine for the country in the days ahead.”
Festivities and wishes
Anila Bhatti, who was also engaged in an animated discussion outside the cathedral, told The Express Tribune that over the past few years, Easter celebrations have differed greatly from the way they were decades ago in Karachi. As a teenager, she used to get up before dawn and make her way to the same cathedral for the sunrise service, just as wisps of golden sunlight were emerging on the inky sky. “But now I can’t imagine allowing my daughter to be out on the streets at 4am. It isn’t safe anymore.” Despite such concerns, not a single law enforcer could be spotted at the cathedral, before or after the English service which started at 9:30am.
“Nevertheless, this day is our Eid, so I’m obviously happy,” said Anila. “I’ve been praying for not only the Christian community but every other person in this country, regardless of their faith. I just hope that all goes well during the upcoming elections.”
Regina John, another woman in the crowd, beamed as she waxed lyrical about what Easter meant for her community. “I feel this time of the year is more spiritual for us than Christmas because it is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” She, like most people at the cathedral, would be heading off to a family lunch.
“Apart from hot cross buns, carrot cakes are also popular around this time of year. I think quite a few people will be serving them. But we’re Pakistanis and so on this day, we’ll be feasting on the same cuisines as any other house in the country!” she laughed, adding that most members of the community would be tucking into platefuls of hot, spicy biryani. “Also, if there are children in the house, Easter eggs - a symbol of fertility, are a must. I’m sure everyone knows about them! The Easter bunnies are also really popular. But not many know that they symbolise the start of new life as rabbits give birth quite frequently.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.
The city’s residents may belong to different faiths, but they are united by one hope - as the general elections draw closer, prayers for a capable and honest prime minister have not only become common across Karachi’s mosques but its churches as well.
On Easter Sunday, a communion service was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral at which people, led by Rt Rev. Sadiq Daniel, prayed that great leaders get elected to power in the upcoming elections with the “capacity to take the entire country forward”. Rev. Shahid Shabir and Rev. TK Kim also wished happiness for all the people in the world, no matter which religion they practiced.
After the service, people gathered outside the cathedral to catch up with one another. Most of the conversations hovered around the looming examinations and how nice it was for the children to get a break before they begin hitting the books.
Cyrus Jonathan, a boy dressed sharply in a crisp pink shirt and khaki pants, was meandering his way through the crowd, shaking hands with as many people as he could. “I’d just like to wish all my cousins, friends and everyone else in the country a happy Easter.” His sister, Jessica Rose, said that Easter marked the birth of new hope and so she had been wishing “everything work out fine for the country in the days ahead.”
Festivities and wishes
Anila Bhatti, who was also engaged in an animated discussion outside the cathedral, told The Express Tribune that over the past few years, Easter celebrations have differed greatly from the way they were decades ago in Karachi. As a teenager, she used to get up before dawn and make her way to the same cathedral for the sunrise service, just as wisps of golden sunlight were emerging on the inky sky. “But now I can’t imagine allowing my daughter to be out on the streets at 4am. It isn’t safe anymore.” Despite such concerns, not a single law enforcer could be spotted at the cathedral, before or after the English service which started at 9:30am.
“Nevertheless, this day is our Eid, so I’m obviously happy,” said Anila. “I’ve been praying for not only the Christian community but every other person in this country, regardless of their faith. I just hope that all goes well during the upcoming elections.”
Regina John, another woman in the crowd, beamed as she waxed lyrical about what Easter meant for her community. “I feel this time of the year is more spiritual for us than Christmas because it is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” She, like most people at the cathedral, would be heading off to a family lunch.
“Apart from hot cross buns, carrot cakes are also popular around this time of year. I think quite a few people will be serving them. But we’re Pakistanis and so on this day, we’ll be feasting on the same cuisines as any other house in the country!” she laughed, adding that most members of the community would be tucking into platefuls of hot, spicy biryani. “Also, if there are children in the house, Easter eggs - a symbol of fertility, are a must. I’m sure everyone knows about them! The Easter bunnies are also really popular. But not many know that they symbolise the start of new life as rabbits give birth quite frequently.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.