Chandigarh: Easter Sunday preparations were in full swing at churches in Chandigarh on Saturday. The city's oldest church, the CNI Church in Sector 18, is expecting a crowd of nearly 2,500 people.
According to the Bible, the festival marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after he was crucified. At St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church in Sector 46, Easter service will begin at 4.30am, said Rev Fr John K Jacob, the church's vicar. "We have planned five house prayers and are expecting nearly 200 people to attend church this Sunday," he said.
As part of the celebrations, the resurrection of Christ from his grave would also be enacted across churches. Rev Darbara Singh, the priest in-charge of the Sector 18 church, said youth and women's fellowship would present the story of resurrection at the church. "We will stage how Christ rose from the dead," he said.
At the Christ The King Cathedral, 800-1,000 people would be participating.
All churches in the city held a vigil starting 11pm as part of the event. At CNI Church, Easter service was expected to start at 5am (Hindi), and then at 9am (English) and 11am (Hindi). Each service would be followed by a community supper.
Easter service would start at 9am at King's Cathedral in Sector 19.
WHERE TO GO
King's Cathedral, Sector 19
Service starts at 9am
CNI Church, Sector 18
Service starts at 5am (Hindi). English service at 9am, and then a Hindi service at 11am
St Mary's Orthodox Church, Sector 46
Service starts at 4.30am