No bells rang and no candles were lit as special services and prayers were offered in churches as the Christian community observed Good Friday while listening to various passages from the Bible.

Good Friday is the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, therefore, the solemn atmosphere. The parish choir sang heartfelt hymns. The crosses in St Anthony’s Church were covered with purple and violet cloth. The colour purple is associated with mourning. It is also the colour associated with royalty so is used in acknowledging Jesus Christ’s resurrection and sovereignty. But the prevailing colour at the church on the day was red, which is associated with martyrs.

Reverend Father Arthur Charles, the parish priest of St Anthony’s Church, explained to Dawn that Good Friday service at their church is usually broken into three parts, beginning with an early morning session, at 6am, which is 40 to 45 minutes of prayers while remembering Jesus Christ followed by two lengthy services, one in Urdu and the other in English.

“The third part leads to communion service received by people. It ends in silence. I won’t call it a time of mourning, but a time of reflection on oneself, on how they can bring about change in their lives and how Jesus can be part of their lives. It’s a time of meditation with a firm belief that after suffering and death, there is hope and joy, and resurrection,” he said.

“There are prayers, remembering the passion and death of Lord Jesus Christ as the covered crosses are slowly unveiled at a proper time as people gaze at them lovingly,” said Father Charles.