Christians in Tripura observing Holy Week ahead of Easter

Christians in Tripura are observing the Holy Week. They held special prayers and mass on Sunday for Palm Sunday with full devotion to commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into the Holy City Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The day initiates Holy Week, the last week of Lent, during which they observe Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, culminating the week into Easter Sunday, the day on which Jesus rose from his tomb.

"I wish all the people of Tripura for this Holy Week. Today we celebrated the entry of Jesus. This whole week Jesus suffers, goes through the pain and agony. So we observe the death and resurrection of Christ," said Mewar Kumar Jamati, Forest Minister of Tripura. The rituals on Palm Sunday include a procession of the faithful carrying palm branches, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem.

"Today Christians around the world celebrate Palm Sunday also known as Passion Sunday wherein we remember the solemn entry of Jesus Christ and also his passion," said Father Boby John, a priest. Pastor priests accompanied by other clergy members recalling Christ's entry to the Holy City. Worshippers took out a procession with palm leaf from the Holy Cross which ended at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Durjoynagar- the outskirts of capital Agartala.

A large number of believers attended the church services on Palm Sunday and prayed for universal peace and prosperity.

(With inputs from agencies.)