Special prayers, processions mark Easter celebrations in Tamil Nadu

Special prayers and services were held in all churches across the State.Thousands of faithfuls, including women and children, thronged the churches to attend the special midnight mass. The churches were decorated and illuminated to mark the occasion. Processions marking the resurrection were also held in churches.

The largest congregation was held at the Santhome Basilica in Chennai and at the Shrine Velankanni church in Nagapattinam.

Thousands of devotees thronged the Velankanni church.The celebrations, which commenced on Saturday night, continued the next day.

As a mark of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, a candlelight procession commenced at 11 PM on Saturday. When the clock struck 12, the resurrection of Jesus was announced by the parish priest Prabhakar Adigalar, followed by special prayers, church officials said.

Prayers in all South Indian languages was held throughout the day on Sunday. Thousands of pilgrims from various parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra participated the festival. The Easter car procession was held on Sunday evening.

The special feature of the celebrations was the ‘padayatra’ by hundreds of pilgrims from various places. Pilgrims, who carried big wooden crosses on their shoulders during the eight-day period between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, arrived at Velankanni on foot and participate in the prayers.

In Tarangambadi, special prayers were held at the New Jerusalem church, believed to be Asia’s oldest protestant church.

Devotees thronged the churches in Coimbatore for Easter celebrations, which commenced on Saturday night. As a mark of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, candle light prayers were held in all the churches. The day marks the culmination of the 40 days of Lent, a period of fasting, prayer, and penance to commemorate the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. On this day, the Christians bonded with their family and relatives. Special prayers were held at St Michaels Church on Big Bazaar Street, CSI church on Trichy Road, St Immanuel Church in Upplipalayam, Fathima Church in Gandhipuram, St Antony Church in Puliakulam, Syrian Church on Brooke Bond Road and other churches.