Introduction

Easter is commonly associated with Western traditions. 

But here in India, everyone celebrates it with just as much enthusiasm as any devout Christians around the globe! We dress in new clothes on this special occasion, decorate our churches, and enjoy delicious community feasts to mark the triumph of goodness over evil. 

If you're an Indian Christian eager to learn more about Easter in India, this article is for you. Keep scrolling to learn more!

Do People Celebrate Easter In India? Origin and History Of Easter

Easter is a major Christian holiday for many Indians (Image source: Pickpik). 

Yes, Easter is a major Christian festival for us here in India! This year, Easter 2024 falls on March 31st, Sunday, but note that the date changes every year. 

Origin 

Jesus was taken prisoner by the Romans for proclaiming himself as the "Son of God," though historians still debate their motive. Some suggest that the Romans saw Jesus as a huge threat to their empire. 

Pontius Pilate, the Judia's Roman prefect, sentenced him to death from 26 to 36 A.D. Jesus' crucifixion, observed on Good Friday (known as the Friday right before Easter Day), and his resurrection 3 days later, according to the gospel authors, confirm he was indeed the son of God. 

Significance

Easter is an important Christian holiday commemorating Jesus Christ's resurrection. As specified in the Bible, this event forms the cornerstone of the Christian faith and, thus, holds great significance on the calendar of any Indian Christian.

This cultural holiday marks the end of the "Passion of Christ," which begins with Lent — 40 days of self-denial, fasting, and church prayers — and concludes on Holy Week. A Holy Week includes:

• The Holy Thursday (or "Maundy Thursday", when the Last Supper of Jesus and his twelve Apostles is celebrated)
• Good Friday (observing Jesus' crucifixion)
• Easter Sunday

Common Rituals And Practices To Celebrate Easter In India

Christians in India, especially in Goa, Mumbai, and Northeastern states, go all out to celebrate Easter! 

1. On Easter Sunday, people flock to every church for special rituals and prayers. 

2. Although decorating Easter eggs isn't as widespread in India as in other countries, people still value its significance. 

Many buy beautifully decorated eggs from stores to gift their children, and you will also find Easter bunnies on sale during this time! Gift exchanges are a big part of the festivities, too.

3. In some regions, street plays, dances, and songs are staged during Easter. Colourful carnivals light up the atmosphere, and families in Christian households enjoy baking lip-smacking cakes to share with loved ones. 

Given the diverse lifestyles and cultures across the country, we can observe a wide variety of traditional Easter recipes from city to city! 

4. Another cherished tradition of Indian Easter is the give-and-take of colourful lanterns and the Holy Cross after special church services. 

Exciting games are organised to keep the festive mood alive, and even the community's youngest members create beautiful handmade crafts for this jolly occasion. Long story short, Easter in India is a time for joy and celebrations! 

How To Prepare Meals To Celebrate Easter In India

A Typical Breakfast

We Indians often enjoy appams with chicken curries made with hot coconut milk. Then, the kids head to the backyards for fun Easter Egg Hunts while the elders relax in the garden or return to their room to read some Scripture. The children unwrap all the eggs to discover loads of candies hidden inside!

Marzipan Eggs

Marzipan eggs are symbols of Jesus' abandoned tomb (Image source: Flickr).

These eggs are a worldwide popular gift that symbolises Jesus' abandoned tomb after his resurrection. 

How can we make them? A sweet mixture of egg white, rose water, almonds, and sugar is combined into the Marzipan confection, shaped into egg balls, and decorated with frosty royal icing. Every egg is a work of art!

Hot Cross Buns

Easter buns are a cross between cinnamon rolls and inner rolls. Soft yet dense, they're bursting with nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice flavours! Brown sugar is usually the main sweetener, and a glossy orange icing tops them off. 

You can tweak the recipe with your favourite spice mix or extra ingredients like cardamom, orange zest, cardamom, or orange peels! Also, while cross buns are traditionally made with currants, raisins can substitute when currants aren't available.

Grape Wine

Making wine for special occasions is a long-standing tradition in Goa and Kerala! 

Grape wine recipes are simple and require only some basic ingredients: black grapes (as sweet as can be), whole wheat (or dry yeast), and sugar. 

Mix the grapes, yeast, and sugar together, then ferment for about three weeks before straining the mixture into another jar. You can add burnt sugar periodically for more colour richness!

Coconut Rice & Anglo Ball Curry

During Easter festivities, Anglo-Indian communities enjoy ball curry, a flavorful dish made with meat koftas in spicy gravy. 

This gravy is seasoned with cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, as well as delicious masalas like coriander powder, jeera powder, turmeric powder, and red chilli powder. The whole dish pairs beautifully with coconut-infused yellow pulao rice, cooked with fragrant spices and shredded coconut.

Chicken Curries (Kerala Style) & Rice Pancakes

You can serve them with Pallapam or soft pancakes (Image source: Wiki). 

Kerala chicken curries are often served with Pallapam or lace-like, soft pancakes for lunch. 

These pancakes are made with active yeast or fresh toddy. The curry is then slow-cooked and spiced with Kerala until the meat becomes juicy and tender. Consider adding coconut milk to enrich the flavours.

How Other Countries Celebrate Easter

• Many Poles participate in the "Droga Krzyżowa" (Way of the Cross) processions on Good Friday, reenacting Jesus's journey to Calvary.
• In Greece, red-dyed eggs are gently cracked together in a game called "Tsougrisma." The one with the unbroken egg is believed to have good luck for the coming year.
• Locals in Bermuda fly colourful kites on Good Friday, a tradition believed to symbolise the spirit rising to heaven.

Conclusion

Easter in India embraces both universal Christian traditions and unique traditions that reflect our Indian identity. If you have any more questions, reach out to fellow Indians in your Christian community or contact us for more guidance!