The significance of Easter

A busy Easter
D. Joel Davis, IPS

I  have no special plans for Easter except that it’s going to be a very busy day. I will be busy with the Hanuman Jayanti procession till late on March 31. After attending early morning Easter service along with my family, I am going to take charge as Commissioner of Police, Siddipet. 

All about joy and celebrations
Dr Christina Z. Chongthu, IAS and MD, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.

The Lent season starts 40 days before Easter Sunday, and it’s a time for introspection and selflessness. Special Holy communion services on Palm Sunday and Good Friday reflect on Christ’s sufferings, while Easter brings joy and celebrations. On Easter, we are going to colour and decorate Easter eggs at home along with other home-cooked delicacies. We will also participate in the Mizo service at St. George’s Church with special choir songs, followed by high tea for all.

Each day is significant Candice Biju Mathew, 

Member, Child Welfare Committee and proprietor Funschool
Lent is a 40 day period of fasting and prayers with Wednesday and Friday being the days where the 14 Stations of the Cross are read at church. The last week is the Holy Week — Wednesday is called Spy Wednesday, followed by Maundy Thursday, where the priest at the church washes the legs of 12 ordinary people, to represent the way in which Jesus served the people. Good Friday is the saddest day as Jesus paid the price for all our sins with his life. Holy Saturday is the time to make resolutions for a better you. Finally, Easter Sunday is the celebration of new life. Easter eggs symbolise new life and breaking away from all that is wrong. A favourite of all the kids, they are filled with sweets, small toys and marzipan.

Focus more 
on God

Deborah Doris Fell, 
beauty pageant winner and participant of Kingfisher Supermodels 

This year, my birthday coincides with Easter, so I’ve decided to throw a birthday bash for my family and close friends. Nothing brings me more joy than getting to spend time with my precious family. Honestly, I don’t believe in bunnies, eggs or candies anymore as my focus is now wholly on Jesus. When I was a kid, my parents used to buy Easter eggs and candies but now, I’ve learnt to focus more on God and less on irrelevant things.

A time for prayer
Priyankaa Varghese, 

IFS, OSD in CMO in-charge Haritha Haram, Telangana
During Lent, I spend more time in prayer. I am very particular about attending church services, right from Palm Sunday onwards at St. Andrews Orthodox Church, Secunderabad. On Maundy Thursday, which is a big event in our old Syrian families, we share milk and bread which is specially made and blessed with a Palm Sunday leaf. On Good Friday, we fast and attend church the whole day. Since childhood, I have also been visiting a church at Malayatoor every year with my dad after Easter Sunday. 

Easter is more special than Christmas
Santha John, Founder Director, coachlife.asia

We are Syrian Christians or Nasranis. In fact, Easter is supposed to be more special than Christmas for Christians. I usually prepare a lunch comprising of roast chicken, plum pudding etc. We rise early and go to St. John’s Church for service. In my early days in Hyderabad, I used to hard boil eggs and paint them. Now we buy chocolate eggs. Last year, we had grilled Atlantic salmon, salad and Easter eggs. It seems most festivals revolve around food!

Focus more on God

Deborah Doris Fell, 
beauty pageant winner and participant of Kingfisher Supermodels 

This year, my birthday coincides with Easter, so I’ve decided to throw a birthday bash for my family and close friends. Nothing brings me more joy than getting to spend time with my precious family. Honestly, I don’t believe in bunnies, eggs or candies anymore as my focus is now wholly on Jesus. When I was a kid, my parents used to buy Easter eggs and candies but now, I’ve learnt to focus more on God and less on irrelevant things.