PESHAWAR: The members of Christian community celebrated Sunday Easter here with religious zeal and fervor by taking out sunrise procession and holding special prayers for peace and progress of the country.

They arrived at different churches in the provincial capital early in the morning and took part in their religious festivity.

The main event was held at All Saints Church Kohati Gate where the sunrise procession was arranged at 4am amid tight security. The participants of the event also offered special songs.

The procession was also attended by women and children. The participants of the procession marched from All Saints Church through tradition route of Peepal Mandi, Jahangirpura, Namak Mandi, Chowk Yadgar, Qissa Khwani and returned to the same venue. The procession was led by Vicar Shahzad Murad and other junior pastors.

Similarly, Easter was also celebrated in different churches in the provincial metropolis and other districts including Mardan and Khyber. Tight security arrangements were in and outside the churches.

The events were in Saint John’s Cathedral, Saint Michael’s Catholic Church on Mall Road, Seventh Day and Assembly of God. The Ester prayers were also offered in churches located in other localities like Umeedabad, Peshtakhara, Ring Road, Pando, Kohati Gate, Gulbahar, Chamkani and Hazarkhwani.

About 2,000 people participated in the procession taken out from All Saints Church in Kohati Gate, SP Sajjad Ahmad Sahabzada told a TV channel. He said that the participants of the procession marched through Qissa Khwani Bazaar and came back to the church.

The SP said that about 300 police personnel with teams from bomb disposal unit, camera mobiles and sniffer dogs also moved with the procession. He added that the layer of security also included rooftop security and checkpoints.

Easter Sunday is one of the most festive events among Christians worldwide which commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, according to the Bible. The followers of Christ believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. Just like any other festival, Easter Sunday also precedes special preparations by the people from different age groups including men, women and children.

“The Christians celebrating the festival in Pakistan receive heartfelt greetings from their countrymen which manifests a great atmosphere of good religious and cultural harmony in the country. Special services are hosted at different places across the country where the believers attend prayers for salvation and for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan,” said Ubaid Bhatti.

The Christians also offered prayers for the members of their community who had lost lives or sustained injuries in the twin suicide bombings at All Saints Church in 2013. They also prayed for Priest Valium Siraj, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Peshawar in January 2022.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2022