Christians in Kerala observe Good Friday

New Delhi, April 19: The Christian community in Kerala is observing Good Friday today in churches across the state with day-long prayers, commemorating the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Devotees assembled in large numbers in churches of various denominations where senior priests led special day-long prayers. In the capital city too, the number of people attending church could be seen.
The day is marked with fasts and the special prayers started at 8 in the morning. The time of prayers differed in various churches. In most churches, today’s highlight is the Nagarikanickal’ ritual, where the crucifix is carried through the streets in a procession.

In most places, hundreds of believers took part in this traditional Cross procession with devotees bearing wooden crosses depicting the final hours of Jesus Christ. The 50-day-long fast ends on Easter which fall on Sunday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.