Easter In India

Easter celebration in India dates back to the pre-Independence period, when British people ruled the country. Even though the Christian population in India constitutes a minuscule 2.5% of the total populace, Easter is celebrated with great fanfare and religious vigor. The festival is as important as the ceremonious occasions of other religions predominant in the country. Exchange of gifts, church services and extravagant carnivals are part of the festivities of Easter in India. Go through the following lines to check out information on the traditions of Easter in India.

Easter Celebration In India

The celebrations of Easter in India commence with Lent and culminate with Easter Sunday. Christians all over the country, especially in Mumbai, Goa and the Northeastern states, make elaborate arrangements for Easter festivities. Worshippers throng the churches for special prayers and rituals on Easter Sunday. Although people do not decorate Easter eggs in India, they are well aware of the oldest tradition of the festival and hence, make it a point to purchase beautifully decorated Easter eggs from the stores and give them as presents for their children. During the festival, Easter bunnies are also sold in the stores. As a part of the festivities, people exchange gift items with each other.

Goa, a Portugal colony in the pre-Independent India, is one of the best easter holiday destinations in India. In this small western State of India, street plays, songs, dances are staged during the festive occasion of Easter. Colorful carnivals are a part of the festivities in Goa. People at the Christian households bake lip smacking Easter cakes for their loved ones. If it is not possible to bake a cake for the festival, they would at least purchase one from the stores, so that they satisfy the taste buds of children. The exchange of colorful lanterns is one of the traditions of Easter in India. The Holy Cross is also exchanged by friends and relatives, once the church service is over. Due to the diversity in the lifestyle and culture in India, the tastes vary from region to region. Therefore, you can find a lot of variety in the traditional recipes cooked for Easter, in the country.

In India, although Easter is not as popular as Christmas, Christians would ensure that the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ is observed with great gusto. To serve the purpose, people have adopted the popular tradition of hosting lavish lunch, dinner and Easter parties (which is seen elsewhere in the world). Interesting games are arranged to keep up the festive spirits. You can see small children making beautiful crafts for the festival. All in all, Easter is a wonderful occasion for having a lot of fun.