About 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the place where he would suffer and be condemned to death. It was the practice for kings after victory to enter the city on horseback. Jesus instead entered Jerusalem on a donkey in order to conquer sin and death and to free us from sufferings and bondage.
The crowd shouted ‘Hosannas’, ‘Hail King’ by placing palms and olive leaves on the way in order to welcome the divine king Jesus. With the same religious fervour and devotion, community members will re-enact the scene at Nanda Nagar parish on Sunday morning.
A procession will also been taken out inside church premises. Participants would be carrying palm leaves in the procession.
Parish priest Father Thomas Rajamanikam would sit on a donkey to express original Palm Sunday event. On Saturday, people decorated churches with palms and other items.
Dilip Ohariya, Nitesh Awaya, Dil Raj and Kanti Kumrawat prepared palms by cutting and shaping branches. “We have planned to feed 150 poor people and lepers,” Ohariya said. During Lenten season, community members will fast and contribute money for the poor. “We also will distribute food at the lepers’ colony, Ishawas (near Bangarda),” Rajamanikam said.
Baisakhi celebrations
Baisakhi marks Punjabi New Year. It also marks Sikh New year (Khalsa era), which commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth led by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. The day will be celebrated in all gurdwaras in the city. The community celebrations will be organised at Kalgidhar Maharaj gurdwara on Sunday. The three-day celebrations that began in gurdwaras will conclude on Sunday.