Christians across India celebrated Easter Sunday with religious fervour and gaiety on 20 April, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ with calls for faith, hope and renewal.
From the northeastern states to southern India, churches throughout the nation hosted special services, vigils, and community gatherings to commemorate Christianity’s most sacred observance. The day was marked by prayers, hymns, and festive meals, symbolising the triumph of life over death.
Northeast Celebrates with Devotion
In Nagaland, where Christianity forms a cornerstone of cultural identity, Easter observances began with sunrise services and night vigils. At Khuochiezie (Kohima Local Ground), hundreds gathered for the Resurrection Sunday Sunrise Service organised by the Kohima Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship.
Addressing the congregation, Nagaland Baptist Church Council General Secretary Rev Dr Mar Pongener emphasised the enduring power of resurrection. “The tomb was no longer a place of hopelessness - it became the very place where the message of hope was declared,” he said, drawing parallels between biblical times and present-day challenges.
The service featured musical presentations by Kohima Lotha Baptist Church and Khedi Baptist Church, enriching the spiritual atmosphere with choral performances.
Similar celebrations were witnessed in Mizoram, where Chief Minister Lalduhoma extended greetings on social media: “He is risen! Wishing you a blessed Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. May your heart be filled with peace, love, and the joy of new life.”
In Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, Christians gathered at dawn, with church bells pealing and congregants dressed in white. Despite tensions in the region, the spiritual fervour remained undiminished, with worshippers visiting cemeteries to enact symbolic rituals of resurrection.
Meghalaya, another Christian-majority state, saw cathedrals and churches thronged with people for special masses. Governor C H Vijayashankar and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma extended warm greetings to the 75 percent Christian population celebrating the occasion.
Southern Celebrations
In Kerala, Christians across denominations thronged churches from the early hours to attend midnight or early morning masses and special prayers. The resurrection was commemorated with both solemn worship and sumptuous feasts, bringing together families and communities in celebration.
Tamil Nadu witnessed vibrant celebrations with special church services beginning in the wee hours. At CSI Immanuel Church in Chennai’s Nerkundram area, hundreds of devotees gathered to offer prayers and celebrate the resurrection. In Thoothukudi, Easter Vigil Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral featured a spectacular display of fireworks and a light show.
“Easter Sunday is also the completion of the forty days of fasting observed by many Christians all over the world,” noted local reports, with people expressing their joy through festive foods they had renounced during Lent. Tamil Nadu’s Easter celebrations typically featured Easter eggs, hot cross buns, and traditional biriyani along with payasam in most households.
Urban Celebrations
In Kolkata, Easter was marked by a vibrant fusion of faith, food, and festivity. The traditional Easter Walk began at 3 pm on Sunday, with parishioners from various congregations converging at St James’ Church for a programme of music, hymns, and prayers. Lord Jesus Church on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road held an Easter vigil at 2 am to commemorate the resurrection, followed by an enactment of Jesus and an Easter rally.
“We had four Holy Mass services on Easter morning preceded by the Easter Vigil Mass, which began at 11 pm on Saturday and continued till 1 am,” said Father Naveen Tauro of St Teresa’s Church, Moulali. The city’s bakeries witnessed a surge in customers, with Imperial Bakers & Confectioners at New Market receiving an order for 3,000 fruit buns. Saldanha Bakery reported a 20% increase in sales compared to the previous year.
In the national capital, Ankit Sajwan Ministries hosted one of the largest Easter gatherings, with over 12,000 worshippers attending their Chhatarpur campus. Apostle Ankit Sajwan delivered the keynote message, emphasising that “the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available today.”
Visakhapatnam saw nearly two lakh Christians from approximately 400 churches celebrating Easter with festive fervour. Many congregants marched to cemeteries in the early hours, holding candles and singing hymns. Rev. P. Rajesh Kumar of Union Chapel explained: “We believe that Easter festival is a symbol of new life, hope and victory over death.”
In Vijayawada, Vijayawada Catholic Diocese bishop Telagathoti Joseph Raja Rao led the Easter service at St. Paul’s Cathedral Church at Benz Circle. The historic Gunadala Church witnessed large gatherings for early morning prayers.
Nagpur Christians marked the end of the 40-day Lent period with prayer, penance, fasting, and repentance. After attending services, families shared special dishes and distributed Easter eggs to children. In Ranchi, Archbishop Vincent Aind led an Easter Mass at Loyola Ground, where hundreds gathered to hear his message that “after the pain and sacrifice of Good Friday, the resurrection reminds us that light always triumphs over darkness.”
Youth Engagement and Community Outreach
A unique celebration took place in Guwahati, where Don Bosco Institute hosted the 18th edition of Youth Pasch, a five-day Holy Week retreat for 700 young participants from across Northeast India. The event culminated in a symbolic Easter morning pilgrimage on the Brahmaputra River.
“Sailing on the Brahmaputra felt like stepping into the Gospel itself,” shared a participant from Arunachal. “It reminded me that faith is a journey, not just a destination.”
Assam Rifles participated in Easter celebrations at multiple locations, including Chandel District in Manipur and Pungro village in Nagaland’s Kiphrie district. In Chandel, personnel attended prayer services and cultural performances, while in Pungro, they organised a special lunch for village residents and children.
In the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Easter Saturday and Sunday were celebrated at John Bosco Church in Kokrajhar. During the Holy Eucharist, Fr Francis Basumatary remarked that “the belief in Jesus is universal and forever” and described Easter Saturday as “the birth of eternal hope.”
National Leaders Extend Greetings
President Droupadi Murmu shared Easter greetings on social media: “Easter greetings to all! On this occasion, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This festival inspires the spirit of new hope and new beginnings. The teachings of Jesus Christ inspire humanity to follow the path of love and sacrifice.”
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar added that “Easter symbolizes hope and renewal through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” noting that Christ’s “timeless teachings of compassion, forgiveness, and service guide humanity toward building a harmonious society.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted the special nature of this year’s celebration: “Wishing everyone a blessed and joyous Easter. This Easter is special because world over, the Jubilee Year is being observed with immense fervour. May this sacred occasion inspire hope, renewal and compassion in every person. May there be joy and harmony all around.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed hope that “this Easter would be a blessed day to fill the hearts of all with joy, hope, and renewal,” while remembering “the noble thoughts of Lord Christ, especially his unwavering commitment to empowering the poor and needy.”
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi sent “warmest greetings and best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Easter,” urging citizens to “draw strength from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, whose message of love, justice and forgiveness continues to inspire us.” Chief Minister M K Stalin similarly extended greetings to the state’s Christian community.
Former Bodoland Territorial Council Chief Hagrama Mohilary hoped for Easter to be “a blessed day to fill the hearts of all with joy, hope, and renewal,” while former Deputy Chief Kampa Borgoyari called Good Friday “a day of Reflection and Faith.”
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations also extended greetings, emphasising themes of harmony, peace, and togetherness.
Religious Leaders Call for Hope and Renewal
In Goa, Easter Vigil services were conducted in churches, chapels, and Catholic institutions across the state on Saturday night. Cardinal Felipe Neri Ferrao presided over the service at the See Cathedral in Old Goa, while Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes led the service at the Chapel in the Bishop’s House in Panaji. In a notable display of inter-faith harmony, a Hindu devotee voluntarily donated wood for the Easter fire at St Anthony’s Church in Siolim.
Local parish priests shared their reflections on Easter’s significance. Fr Derick Fernandes, Parish Priest of Pilerne, described Easter as “Hope made alive,” while Fr Bolmax Pereira of Chicalim emphasised that “the Paschal Mystery is not just about Information but Transformation.” Fr Walter de Sa of Panaji connected the celebration to the Jubilee Year theme: “In this Jubilee Year 2025, keeping in mind its theme, ‘Pilgrims of hope’, let us strive to make a new beginning by journeying together.”
The National Council of Churches in India released an Easter message encouraging believers to “bounce back with zing” in the face of challenges. General Secretary Asir Ebenezer wrote: “Every situation around us today expresses a ‘There Is No Alternative (TINA)’ syndrome, while Easter calls the bluff and helps bounce back with ‘There are A Thousand Alternatives (TATA)’.”
Similarly, the Evangelical Fellowship of India’s General Secretary, Rev. Vijayesh Lal, reminded Christians that “the resurrection is not only a past event; it is a present power and a future promise,” adding that “in light of this, the Church in India is called to live not with fear, but with faith.”
Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao of Goa and Daman expressed hope that “all the people living in Goa may join together in building a society offering hope, support and newness of life.”
This Easter Sunday in India, amidst diverse regional celebrations and expressions of faith, the unifying themes of hope, renewal, and spiritual transformation echoed across the nation’s Christian communities, bringing light and joy to believers during this sacred occasion.
