CELEBRATING GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER IN NEPAL

Rupa Magar. She graduated from Sophia’s Home and she is now serving in Wesley Bardan Methodist Church. She is also the Deputy Editor of MCN Herald and will be completing her tertiary studies in Journalism this year.

Singing and music fill the air long before a train of Christians is seen at one corner of the road. Some holding banners, some playing the guitar, tambourine, or madal (a Nepalese folk musical instrument), and some dancing. All of them joyfully singing hymns with their loudest voices in praise and worship. Spectators at first guess it to be part of the usual ethnic festivals but wonder at the different songs being sung and the banners displaying messages that are not normally seen. This leads them to ask questions as they all want to know what is going on. This then provides a divine opportunity for us to share His message - that this event is a display of the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, our Lord. It is a celebration where we Christians aim to spread the joy of experiencing the love of Jesus and to touch hearts with the gospel of love. This is what our annual national Easter Rally is all about!

The season of Lent in Nepal, for those who wish to be a part of it, begins with fasting and praying for 40 days. Churches all over Kathmandu valley follow a prayer guide for daily prayers. The Holy Week preceding Good Friday and Easter is filled with evening services and sermons on the events leading to Jesus’s crucifixion.

On Good Friday, the evening service starts with people mostly wearing black attire. It is not a rule but a show of respect. The sermon message is different on Good Friday as seven different speakers share briefly on the topic with different highlights regarding Christ’s crucifixion. After the series of sermons, the movie “The Passion of Christ” is shown or the clips of it leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. It heartbreakingly reminds us of God’s love and sacrifice for us. The service then ends in prayer and gratefully-shed tears.

Easter is a hugely anticipated day for Nepali Christians mostly because of the rally. That said, rising early for the morning sunrise service and for baptism in the afternoon is a huge part of the day too. Celebrations start with the sunrise service which includes praise and worship, sermon, and prayer. They begin setting out for the rally after breaking fast.

The journey starts with a single church group walking, singing, and dancing. Along the rally route, the other churches join in. And eventually, a long train of people forms. Each church sings different hymns and dances to its own beat. Each proclaims Christ’s resurrection to the world.

The rally is a programme for all the churches in Kathmandu valley to gather and celebrate Easter. It is a time when worship, dances, sermons, songs, and blood donations are conducted at an open ground for about three hours. However, this programme was not conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic period as Easter was celebrated online. This year, we look forward to having it once again in the streets of Kathmandu.

The celebration continues with baptism services that takes place in the afternoon at the churches. Those who are baptised are being prayed for, blessed, and congratulated. The afternoon baptism feast is a joyous one with church members sharing their own baptism experiences and joys, and praising God for the newlysaved souls. The blessed day ends with prayer for souls that are yet to be saved, to be ready for harvest.

We are thankful to God for being able to share the Good News in such a vibrant and meaningful way to the people in Kathmandu, and by all the believers from all the different churches in Kathmandu.

To God be the Glory!