Easter Celebration at Raikia Parish

SUNDAY, 12th April 2009, the Day for Easter Sunday is waited eagerly by the
believers of Raikia Parish as there is no certainty of celebrating Easter Sunday
with JOY & HAPPINESS. Because the one of the most important celebration,
“Christmas Celebration” was fed up with the terror of saffron attacks earlier in
2008 & 2009. During the communal riot in Kandhamal district most of the churches
burnt and destroyed to ashes, hence the Easter Celebration is the much waited
Celebration for the Christian believers at Raikia. But the believers decided to
celebrate the festival with their heart and faith in Almighty Lord Jesus Christ.
At Catholic Church, it started from Holy Thursday, the day of Last Supper of the
Lord, followed by the Good Friday, the day of Passion of Christ and concluded on
Holy Saturday, the day of Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Saturday night there
was Midnight Holy Mass presided by Rev. Fr. Bijaya Kumar Pradhan, Parish Priest,
Rev. Fr. Sisir, Rev. Fr. Manaranjan including one guest priest and Deacon Ranjeet.
On the next day on Sunday morning Holy Mass also concluded at the main Parish
Church including substations of Sugadabadi, Gamerikia and in the ongoing Relief
Camp at Mandakia where thousands of faithful witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ. In the Catholic Church the Novena of Mercy Sunday also begins
simultaneously from Good Friday which will conclude on the Mercy Sunday on
19.04.2009
The Easter Celebration also celebrated in different Baptist Churches of Raikia
Block. At Raikia thousands of faithful gathered in the Baptist Church.
The Easter Celebration of Raikia is covered by the BBC News service as well.