By Kayva Gokhale 

Easter, also known as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a major Christian holiday that is celebrated all over the world. The day marks the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his death by crucifixion. Easter marks the end of Lent, which is a period of 40 days during which Christians pray and observe fasts and acts of penance. The week before Easter is known as Holy Week since it includes the commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper as well as observance of Good Friday, the day of his crucifixion. Easter does not fall on the same date every year, since it is based on the lunisolar calendar. Generally, Easter is therefore celebrated on the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon, which occurs soonest after 21 March. 

Easter is a day of happiness for Christians everywhere since it marks the joyous Resurrection and triumph of Jesus Christ. The day can be seen as a symbol of the victory of goodness, hope, life and resistance against oppression. In the period before the crucifixion of Christ, he continued spreading his message of peace, love and forgiveness, despite being aware of the risks. He knew that he would eventually be punished for his beliefs and work, yet he persevered without fear or doubt. Therefore, Easter is a true celebration of Jesus Christ, his faith, his courage and his message for his followers. 

Easter celebrations vary across the world and have changed quite a bit over the years. In most countries that have a significant Christian population, including India, Easter and Good Friday are public holidays. Since the festival falls on a Sunday, schools and other institutions are usually closed anyway. In India, Easter is celebrated mainly through church services and mass, where people congregate together for prayer. While the tradition of decorating Easter eggs is more popular in the Western world, people in India often gift small children chocolate eggs. Apart from that, feasts and cakes are prepared, families and friends meet and gifts or lanterns are exchanged to mark this joyous occasion.