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In pictures: Christian community celebrates Palm Sunday in Pakistan amid coronavirus threat

Published April 5, 2020
A Christian devotee stands in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing holds palm branch to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
A Christian devotee stands in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing holds palm branch to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
A Christian woman and her children watch from her house roof a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
A Christian woman and her children watch from her house roof a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
TOPSHOT - Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday event at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
TOPSHOT - Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday event at the Christian neighborhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — AFP or licensors
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Members of Pakistan's Christian community celebrated Palm Sunday amid restrictions put in place by the authorities to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Palm Sunday celebrations start in the Holy Week leading up to Easter. According to Christian belief, it commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and is the start of the church's most solemn week, which includes the Good Friday reenactment of Jesus' crucifixion and death and his resurrection on Easter.

Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday event at the Christian neighbourhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. — AFP
Christian devotees stand in circles marked on the ground to maintain social distancing as they hold palm branches to celebrate a Palm Sunday event at the Christian neighbourhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. — AFP

A Christian woman and her children watch from her house roof a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighbourhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. — AFP
A Christian woman and her children watch from her house roof a Palm Sunday service at the Christian neighbourhood during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in Islamabad on April 5, 2020. — AFP

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