'The whole world is but one family' - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia
'The whole world is but one family' - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia
'The whole world is but one family' - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia
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H<strong>is</strong>tory<br />
Jesus Chr<strong>is</strong>t had certain kind of spark or glow on<br />
h<strong>is</strong> face at the time of h<strong>is</strong> birth. But many priests<br />
including Judas and Jew<strong>is</strong>h community found him<br />
guilty as they thought that h<strong>is</strong> teachings according to<br />
them were spreading revolutionary changes and riots<br />
in their people. Moreover, they built a conspiracy/plot<br />
against him in which they planned to hatch Chr<strong>is</strong>t.<br />
After plotting against him, they started putting up<br />
charges against him for motivating people not to pay<br />
taxes to their King and by claiming these charges in<br />
front of the Governor they arrested him and he was<br />
produced in front of the Roman Governor to prove<br />
h<strong>is</strong> innocence. But as the luck was on h<strong>is</strong> side, Roman<br />
Governor didn’t found anything wrong in h<strong>is</strong> teachings<br />
and gave him a clean chit. But these people tried hard<br />
and finally proved that h<strong>is</strong> teachings were wrong,<br />
motivating crime and were bringing revolutionary<br />
changes in the society. Eventually, Chr<strong>is</strong>t was handed<br />
over to Jew<strong>is</strong>h and Judas communities. After Chr<strong>is</strong>t’s<br />
possession they took him for crucifixion. He was<br />
brutally killed by h<strong>is</strong> opp<strong>one</strong>nts as they made him<br />
wear crown of thorns and on the huge wooden cross<br />
he was hanged and was addressed by the crowd as<br />
‘King of Jews’ which were following him. With him<br />
there were two other criminals who died on the same<br />
day. After three hours of nailing down and suffering<br />
he died. But before death he prayed h<strong>is</strong> last w<strong>is</strong>h to<br />
God that; please God forgive the sinners who planned<br />
the conspiracy against me as they don’t know that<br />
by killing him what size of sin they have performed.<br />
Hence, till today on Good Friday a cross <strong>is</strong> unveiled<br />
in churches <strong>world</strong> over and Chr<strong>is</strong>tians.<br />
Celebrations<br />
The Good Friday celebration starts by k<strong>is</strong>sing a plank<br />
of wood depicted on the cross of Chr<strong>is</strong>t. After th<strong>is</strong><br />
ritual people perform other practices where narratives<br />
read out four gospels from the holy book and later<br />
general communion service <strong>is</strong> performed at midnight<br />
after which a burial takes place. On Good Friday<br />
particularly, the bells of the church remains silent<br />
(which rather on other days doesn’t) because th<strong>is</strong> day<br />
<strong>is</strong> marked as a Sad Day for Chr<strong>is</strong>tians.<br />
Easter<br />
Easter <strong>is</strong> another important festival for Chr<strong>is</strong>tians.<br />
On th<strong>is</strong> day Jesus Chr<strong>is</strong>t rose from the dead and<br />
ascended into heaven. Easter eggs and Easter bunnies<br />
are a major attraction during Easter, the festival of<br />
rejuvenation of life and living. Easter falls on 12th<br />
April. In the days of the early Chr<strong>is</strong>tian church, only<br />
Easter Sunday was celebrated as a holy day. By the<br />
fourth century, each day of the week preceding Easter<br />
was establ<strong>is</strong>hed as holy days including Good Friday.<br />
To most Chr<strong>is</strong>tians, Good Friday <strong>is</strong> really a m<strong>is</strong>nomer<br />
in that it was a “bad” Friday—the crucifixion day<br />
of Jesus. Some believe the term “Good” evolved<br />
from “God” or God’s Friday. Others believe “Good”<br />
represents the good gift of salvation brought forth by<br />
the martyrdom. Regardless, it <strong>is</strong> a holy day throughout<br />
the Chr<strong>is</strong>tian <strong>world</strong>. Ceremonial worship of the<br />
holiday follows closely to the events described in the<br />
scriptures. Some congregations still hold a three-hour<br />
service on Friday representing the three hours He<br />
hanged on the cross. A typical service includes seven<br />
d<strong>is</strong>tinct elements representative of Chr<strong>is</strong>t’s seven<br />
utterances while on the cross. Originally known as<br />
‘God’s Friday’, the present expression <strong>is</strong> believed to<br />
have emerged in the 10th or 11th century. According<br />
to Chr<strong>is</strong>tian legend, Jesus Chr<strong>is</strong>t was from Nazareth,<br />
a town in modern Israel. A well-loved and respected<br />
citizen, he was considered by many to be the Son of<br />
God.<br />
Celebrations<br />
People gather in churches to l<strong>is</strong>ten to mass and<br />
participate in the Way of the Cross. Priests narrate<br />
the sufferings that Jesus Chr<strong>is</strong>t took upon himself for<br />
the sake of humanity. After the mass, the crucifix,<br />
which until th<strong>is</strong> time has been kept away from view,<br />
<strong>is</strong> now uncovered before the crowd for veneration. A<br />
very somber ceremony, “the Way of the Cross” <strong>is</strong> a<br />
re-enactment of the path Jesus took on Mount Calvary<br />
before the Crucifixion.<br />
*<strong>Bharatiya</strong> <strong>Vidya</strong> <strong>Bhavan</strong><br />
Source: www.festivalsinindia.net, www.festivalsofindia.in
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