ISLAMABAD: Christians all over the world, including Pakistan, have celebrated Easter with zeal and enthusiasm Sunday.
The day started with special religious rituals, prayers, and exchange of greetings with messages of goodwill and prosperity, while the government made special security arrangements around churches as well as the religious gathering of Christians.
The main prayer ceremony was held in Vatican City. Meanwhile, special prayers have been organised at churches across Pakistan for the progress, prosperity, and security of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday extended his greetings to the Christian community, living in Pakistan and across the globe, on the celebration of Easter.
On his Twitter handle, the prime minister lauded the services rendered by the Christian community in all walks of life since the creation of Pakistan.
“Happy Easter to the Christian community in Pakistan & around the world. We greatly value & laud the services that our Christian Pakistanis have rendered in all walks of life since the creation of Pakistan. Let us all spread the shared message of peace, inclusivity & love,” he said in a tweet.
In a separate message, the prime minister expressed the resolve to ensure progress, prosperity and constitutional rights of the minorities. He said the Christians and all other Pakistani minorities had been their asset and source of strength.
Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has also felicitated the Christian community on the occasion of Easter. In his message, the chairman said the Constitution guaranteed protection of the rights of all the minorities including Christians. All the minorities enjoyed equal rights in the country, he added.
He lauded the role of all the minorities including Christian community in the country’s development. The minorities would continue to play their role in this regard, the chairman hoped.
Easter manifested love and mutual respect, he said while stressing the need for promoting unity and inter-faith harmony in the country.
Easter Sunday is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches as the Christian community holds prayers and special ceremonies to mark Easter week.
According to the Christian faith, the occasion marks the end of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, and the last week of the Lent is called Holy Week which contains Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
Easter customs vary across the Christian world, but decorating Easter eggs is a common motif. In the Western world, customs such as egg hunting and Easter Bunny extend from the domain of the church and often have a secular character. –Agencies
