By IANS,
New Delhi : Special prayer services in churches followed by elaborate feasts marked Easter celebrations in the capital Sunday.
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifiction.
Liz Joseph, a homemaker who had rustled up a grand lunch for her family and close friends Sunday, said: “Easter follows the fasting period of Lent when the devout abstain from physical comforts to gain spiritual strength. I, for instance, have been avoiding non-vegetarian food since about mid-February and attending the daily mass in the church.”
“Easter, which marks the resurrection of Christ, ends this period and, therefore, it’s a very joyous occasion. We feast and make merry. Cooking a traditional lunch on Easter is a must in our family,” Joseph told IANS.
Joel Matthew, a student, said he attended the midnight Easter mass in a church, along with his family, before arranging for a grand feast that was attended by his college friends.
“I don’t need to invite my friends for Easter lunch – they are always there! My mother makes this delicious chicken roast – sometimes turkey roast which we get from the INA market. She bakes an awesome plum cake that is the talk of the college, days after!” Matthew laughed.
The Easter egg, which symbolises the resurrection, is seen in many homes on the day, and nowadays also in confectionary shops.
Radha Sharma, a mother of two, said: “I visited Wengers, a confectionery shop in Connaught Place in the morning and was surprised to see a wide range of big and small, colourful easter eggs. Some of them were made of chocolate while others were plastic filled with jellybeans.”
“The eggs were so cute that I decided to pick up a few for my kids. Not surprisingly, they simply loved it! I also took some for my friend’s children who invited us for the Easter feast,” she said.