The Christians in Bhopal observed Good Friday with day-long prayers, commemorating the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Devotees congregated in large numbers in churches where senior prelates led special prayers to mark the day. In most places, processions were taken out with devotees bearing wooden crosses depicting the final hours of Jesus, from his condemnation to placing the body in the tomb after his crucifixion on Mount Golgotha.
The members of the Syro Malabar Church depicted the passion of Christ on Carmel School Ground on Good Friday. About 4,000 members of the Catholic Community from different parts of the city commemorate the agony of Jesus, the son of God, to liberate mankind from the slavery of sin and curse. The faithful holding cross in their hands with the age old prayers and hymns on their lips moved from station to station recalling the fourteen stations of the way of the cross, a special prayer offered in all parts of the world on Good Friday. A team of 150 participants of Mother Teresa Senior Secondary School, Kolar Road presented the way of the cross on specially erected stages with the backdrops of ancient Roman cities transported the faithful to the spiritual realms throughout the 60-minute-long ceremony.
Fr Hans Puthiyakulangara, Priest In-charge of the Syro Malabar Church, Bhopal led the prayers along with Fr James Athikalam, Fr Jose Neendukaran, Fr Thomas Attumel, Fr Augustine Marottikudy and Fr Scaria Thamarakkattu. About 100 nuns from different congregations, encouraged the faithful to take part actively in the prayers. Sr Pavitra, Principal, Carmel School, BHEl, Sr Mary Sebastian, Principal, St Mary’s Senior Secondary School and Sr Anupa Mathews, Principal Mount Carmel School were among the members of the congregation. In his message, Archbishop Bhopal leo Cornelio said, “Good Friday is one of the most important days for Christians. This day signifies the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for the sake of forgiveness of our sins. Today, we mourn and relive in prayers the suffering Jesus went through before being crucified.”