Christians observed and celebrated Easter with special prayer ceremonies across Lahore on Sunday.
The day started with special religious rituals, prayers and exchange of greetings with messages of goodwill and prosperity. The government made special security arrangements around all churches, including St Andrew’s Church, St Anthony’s Church and St Joseph’s Church.
Easter Sunday is typically the most well attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches as the Christians hold prayers and special ceremonies to mark the Easter week.
The Friday before Easter Sunday, Good Friday, is observed as a mourning day that Lord Jesus died on whereas Easter Sunday is celebrated because Jesus resurrected on this Sunday, Christians believe.
According to Christians, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday, also called Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday.
Easter marks the end of Lent; a 40-day period of fasting and the last week of the Lent is called the Holy Week. Easter is followed by a 50-day period, called Eastertide or the Easter Season which ends with Pentecost Sunday.
Easter is a moveable feast as it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. It occurs during the spring, in March or April; the method for determining the date of Easter Sunday is complex, based on the luni-solar calendar. Easter customs vary across the Christian world, but decorating Easter eggs is a common motif.