Midnight mass, candlelight prayers mark Easter in dist

Coimbatore: Christians in the district celebrated Easter Sunday with fervour and devotion, visiting churches and offering prayers.Special services and candlelight prayers were held in churches across the district, including at St Michael's Cathedral on Big Bazaar Street, Infant Jesus Church at Kovaipudur, Mount Carmel Church at Podanur and CSI Christ Church on Trichy Road. At CSI Christ Church on Trichy Road, special services were held at 4am and 8am. The early morning service was led by Rajendra Kumar, chairman of the church, while the second service was led by Sargunam, associate presbyter of the church. More than 800 devotees participated in the services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Similarly, at Mount Carmel Church at Carmel Nagar near Podanur, the parish priest led special candlelight prayers and the midnight mass. Churches across the city were decorated for the celebrations, as lent came to an end. Places of worship belonging to different Christian denominations organized special services beginning late Saturday night to mark Easter. Sunday morning services were also held in churches, drawing a large turnout. Infant Nisha, a devotee at Mount Carmel Church, said, "Jesus Christ was god who came into the world as a man to give us happiness, atonement and peace. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ depicts the death caused by the sinful nature of human beings. His resurrection from death marks the victory over sin and promises a future of glory for mankind. It also signifies love, solace, peace and freedom."