Catholic Outlook Magazine | Lent & Easter | 2024 Issue

HOW WE CELEBRATE EASTER IN...
The Syro-Malabar Community
BY FR MATHEW AREEPLACKAL
The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the 23
autonomous Oriental/Eastern Catholic Churches
based in Kerala, India and in full communion
with the Apostolic See of Rome. It is the second
largest Oriental Catholic Church and is known
for its deep-rooted spirituality, and traces its
origins to St Thomas the Apostle, who arrived in
Kodungallur, Kerala, India, in 52AD.
Preparing for Easter starts with “the Great Lent”,
or Valiaya Nomb, a 50-day period. It begins on
Sunday at midnight, and the service of Ash on a
Monday. Ash Monday and Good Friday are the
days of obligatory fasting and abstinence.
Food plays a vital role in the Syro-Malabar
community, serving as a tool for passing down
faith and traditions. On the 41st day of Lent,
families prepare "Kozhukotta," a sweet rice
dumpling symbolising the fragrant nard used to
anoint Jesus before his passion. Maundy Thursday
night sees the preparation of the "Passover Meal,"
unleavened bread and a special drink, echoing
the Israelites' escape from Egypt and Jesus'
Last Supper with his disciples. These culinary
traditions weave a tangible connection between
past and present, faith and community.
For the Syro-Malabar faithful, Easter is not just
a single day of celebration. Palm Sunday marks
the beginning of a week dedicated to liturgical
observance. Families abstain from meat,
participate in church services, and engage in
spiritual reflection. The tender coconut leaves
received on Palm Sunday are a symbol of victory,
while Good Friday is marked by prayer, fasting,
and Stations of the Cross, allowing them to share
in Christ's suffering.
A deeply moving custom practiced for centuries is
the singing of "Puthen Paana," a ritual mourning
song. Sung after the Passover meal and Good
Friday services, it expresses the sorrow and
anguish of Mother Mary through the eyes of
the community, adding a profound emotional
dimension to the commemoration.
The culmination of this spiritual journey arrives
with the Easter Vigil. The candle procession,
symbolic knocking open of the church door,
and joyous shouts of "Hallelujah" announce the
resurrection. The exchange of greetings, "The
Messiah is risen!" and "Indeed the Messiah is
risen!" fills the air with a tangible sense of triumph
and hope.
The Syro-Malabar Easter traditions are more than
just cultural practices; they are a living testament
to faith and a powerful way of connecting with
the past. By immersing ourselves in the customs,
we gain a deeper understanding of the universal
message of Easter: a message of hope, renewal,
and the enduring power of faith.
The Syro-Malabar community in the Diocese of
Parramatta has grown with waves of migration,
bringing rich traditions and vibrant faith to our
new home. Established in 2009, the St Alphonsa
Mission has become a thriving hub for the
community, offering regular Masses, catechism
classes, and community gatherings.
Our unique Easter traditions serve as a reminder
of the universality of our faith and the power of
sharing cultural expressions within the broader
Church community.
Fr Mathew Areeplackal is the Chaplain to the
Syro-Malabar Community in the Diocese of Parramatta.
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