Easter celebrated with religious fervor

ISLAMABAD: Easter, the religious festival of Christians was celebrated on Sunday by Christian minorities living across the country with religious fervor and zeal.

In twin cities, the areas where Christians live in large number and churches, the festival was observed with religious rituals and traditional festivity with Easter sunrise.

With glowing faces, the members of Christian community greeted each other including their friends and family and prayed for their success and prosperity.

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Lord, Jesus Christ. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches.

They believe that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter.

The members of Christian community visited the markets of twin cities to shop for themselves and their loved ones till the night before Easter. The main ritual of the Easter celebration was to decorate Easter eggs that come in various colors, patterns, styles and motifs.

Minister In-charge of National Harmony, Dr Paul Bhatti also greeted the minorities on the occasion saying that Easter preaches the message of tolerance, sacrifice, brotherhood, hope and freedom, which is a guideline to all of us.

In a message on Easter, he said Easter reminds us to reaffirm our solidarity and to work hard for the interfaith relationship and harmony for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.

He said it is the time that the people of different faiths should become united to defeat destructive elements who want to destabilize our country by their ill designs.

"We should demonstrate national unity and tolerance to counter the conspiracies" he stressed. He said a national campaign to promote interfaith harmony to counter the trends of extremism and bridge the gap among different faiths would be launched soon and for the purpose we are holding an international conference to promote interfaith harmony, which will be attended by religious leaders of all faiths from all over the world.

He said festivals of minorities are celebrated officially by the government throughout the year to follow the true ethical values and in this regard, the festival of Easter will also be celebrated at higher level.

"Let us reiterate the commitment to continue to fight for the peaceful homeland and for the rights of minorities and deprived people in the country", Dr. Paul Bhatti said.

He said Easter brings faces glowing with happiness, as people come together, feast, pray, wish each other well and enjoy the moments, which will be sacred and blessed.

"I wish Christian community a very happy Easter. May this day bring lot of happiness and joys in your lives. Pray for the peaceful and prosperous Pakistan", he prayed.