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Easter
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Easter is
the day when Jesus Christ was crucified and the Christians
offer prayers and services in the Churches. Easter is
another important festival for Christians. On this day
Jesus Christ
rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Easter eggs and
Easter bunnies are a major attraction during Easter, the
festival of rejuvenation of life and living.
In the days of the early Christian church, only Easter
Sunday was celebrated as a holy day. By the fourth century,
each day of the week preceding Easter was established as
holy days including
Good Friday.
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To most Christians, Good Friday is
really a misnomer in that it was a "bad" Friday—the crucifixion day
of Jesus. Some believe the term "Good" evolved from "God" or God's
Friday. Others believe "good" represents the good gift of salvation
brought forth by the martyrdom. Regardless, it is a holy day
throughout the Christian world.
Ceremonial worship of the holiday follows closely to the events
described in the scriptures. Some congregations still hold a
three-hour service on Friday representing the three hours He hanged
on the cross. A typical service includes seven distinct elements
representative of Christ's seven utterances while on
the cross.
Good Friday
is a day of sincere reverence among Goan Catholics. It is the
culmination of Lent, an important observance in the lives of devout
Catholics. Lent is observed for 40 days from February to March,
beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on
Good Friday
followed by Easter Sunday.
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The
Legend Behind Easter
Originally known as 'God's
Friday', the present expression is believed to have emerged
in the 10th or 11th century. According to Christian legend,
Jesus Christ
was from Nazareth, a town in modern Israel. A well-loved and
respected citizen, he was considered by many to be the Son
of God.
Some high officials and Jewish priests, however, felt that
he was trying to usurp their authority and mislead the
people. They hatched a plot against Christ with the help of
one of his 12 apostles, named Judas. On charges of
misleading the people, of instigating them not to pay taxes
to the emperor, and of claiming to be the messenger of God,
they arrested Christ. The following day, he was produced
before a council comprising priests, teachers of law and
elders, and questioned about the charges against him.
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Finding
him guilty on all counts, they presented him before the
Roman Governor, who saw no reason to condemn him. But the
priests were adamant. They insisted that it was his
teachings, which were responsible for all the riots in the
city of Judea. At the same time, they pleaded for the
release of one of their men, who had been imprisoned for the
crime. The Governor appealed to them, reiterating that
Christ had done no wrong. When the clergy did not agree, he
handed
Jesus Christ
to them to do as they wished. The crowd asked for his
crucifixion.
As he was led away by the soldiers, he was made to wear a
crown of throns and mockingly addressed as 'King of the
Jews' by the jeering crowd. A huge wooden cross was placed
on his shoulders, and he carried it to the place assigned
for his
crucifixion.
In a show of solidarity, a group of his followers marched in
a procession behind him. Two criminals were also led to the
same place to be put to death with Jesus. At the assigned
place, the three men were nailed to the crosses and left to
die. Before he breathed his last, Jesus asked God, his
father, to forgive those who were responsible for his death,
as they were unaware of the magnitude of their sin. Jesus is
believed to have died at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, three
hours after being nailed to
the cross.
On
Good Friday,
a cross, symbolic of the one on which Jesus was crucified,
is unveiled in many churches. It is believed that Jesus rose
from his grave on the following Sunday, which is celebrated
as Easter. The rituals for
Good Friday
begin on the preceding Thursday. A feast symbolising the
last supper of Christ is held on Thursday night. The end of
this meal marks the beginning of the fast for Easter.
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The Celebrations
The Celebrations
In Panjim, hundreds of devout Goan Catholics
gather in the Panjim Church of Mary Immaculate
Conception to listen to mass and participate in
the Way of
the Cross.
During the afternoon sermon, the priests narrate
the sufferings that
Jesus Christ
took upon himself for the sake of humanity. The
mass is in Konkani, Goa's state language,
attracts a crowd too large for the church
itself, and people stand in the doorways and in
the premises, dressed in formal clothes with
somber countenance.
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The Ceremony
After the mass,
the crucifix, which until this time has been
kept from view, is now uncovered before the
crowd for veneration. A very somber ceremony,
"the Way of
the Cross"
is a reenactment of the path Jesus took on Mount
Calvary before the
Crucifixion.
In Panjim, which draws the largest crowd, a
large wooden cross-carried by an image of Jesus
is taken from the church, down the steps, and
through the streets of the town. It is carried
by the clergymen while the crowd follows in two
parallel lines in front of and in back of the
statue, some weeping and all with very solemn
faces.
Those not participating in the actual procession
look on from the roadsides, both Hindus and
Christians alike. Somber music played by a band
accompanies the procession, which slowly winds
its way through the main streets in Panjim
before returning to the church. The mass and
procession occur in every church in Goa, but the
one in Panjim draws the largest crowd.
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