Good Friday was commemorated by Christians throughout the country today as they took out processions, held prayers and spend the day fasting and repenting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at a hill near Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago.
In the national capital, people of the Christian faith attended special masses held in various Churches and listened to the sermons.
Processions were taken out at several places marking the final hours of Christ from his condemnation to the laying of the body in the tomb after crucifixion on the Mount Calvary.
In Kerala, Christians observed Good Friday by congregating in large numbers in Churches of various denominations across the state where senior prelates led special prayers to mark the day.
In most places, "Stations of the Cross" processions were taken out with devotees bearing wooden crosses depicting the final hours of Jesus.
Hundreds of pilgrims carrying heavy wooden crosses trekked to the St Thomas Church atop the hillock at Malayattoor in Ernakulam district, believed to be have been sanctified by the visit of Apostle St Thomas, who preached Christ's message in India.
It was also a holiday for all government offices and educational institutes. Stock markets were also shut today.
Good Friday was also observed with religious solemnity in the northeastern states.
In Mizoram, Catholic Church members took out a procession in Aizawl and other places and held mass to commemorate the sufferings of Christ on the Cross.
Church bells rang all over the state as people went to worship and priests and preachers delivered sermons. The Presbyterian Church priests also organised Eucharist in many Churches across the state.
In Nagaland's capital Kohima, a silent march with a cross was taken out signifying Jesus's last journey.
Arrangements were also being made to celebrate Easter on Sunday with special programmes at the World War-II cemetery in the state capital.
In Meghalaya's capital Shillong, special sermons on salvation and partaking in the 'Lord's Supper' marked the celebration of the Holy Week which began last Sunday, also called the Palm Sunday, and will culminate this Sunday, Easter.
The Cathedral Church of Mary Help of Christians is the main place of worship of the over 3,00,000-strong Catholics of the Shillong Archdiocese which covers the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Christian-dominated Meghalaya.
