Date:24/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/24/stories/2008032458870400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sermons mark Easter

Staff Reporter

Resurrection of Christ is centred on the symbol for light

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

THE BEGINNING, AGAIN: An Easter mass at the Resurrection Church on Old Madras Road in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: One of the important festivals in the Christian liturgical year, Easter, was celebrated by Christians across the city on Sunday. Churches had organised sermons to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Angel Tavares, an advertising professional, said that during Easter, she usually visits her close family members after attending the service at church and exchanges Easter egg. “The egg does not really have any religious significance. As children, we were told that the Easter bunny would come and hide eggs and would go hunt the eggs. The idea of the Easter bunny is like that of Christmas and Santa Claus.”

She said that she was not able to celebrate the festival in a big way this year. “It is mainly because I am not at home. Otherwise, after a festive lunch, we go around and exchange Easter eggs with other families,” she added.

For Marshall Samuel’s family, Easter is a festival for close family to get together, go to church and have a big feast thereafter. “We do not celebrate it on a grand scale. We go to church and the sermon is usually based on Easter and how relevant it is in today’s times,” he said.

Fr. Gilbert Choondal, professor at Kristu Jyothi College, told The Hindu that it is during Easter that people renew their vows as Christians. “Renewal of Christian commitment happens during the Easter season that is on for about 50 days, beginning Easter Sunday. During Easter, churches have service of the ‘light’ representing God who has risen from the dead.”

He said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is centred on the symbol for light, which is why a Pascal candle is lit during the sermons at church. About the exchange of Easter egg, Fr. Gilbert said that the concept itself is a Western one. “It is to symbolise the beginning of new life. The birth of the chick from an egg is synonymous to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, people have given this their own twist and practice it even here,” he said.