Live
- Telangana Government Announces Rs. 5 Lakh Compensation for Families of Gulf Migrant Workers
- Grand Celebration of Dasara Festival on the 5th Day – Bhadrakali Goddess in Skandamata Ornamentation
- CM Revanth Reddy Urges Young Engineers to Lead Musi River Revitalization at TGPSC Event
- UTF District Branch Demands Immediate Implementation of the 12th PRC
- Dark-Humor Thriller 'Snakes & Ladders' Set for Global Premiere on October 18
- Kadapa Municipal Corporation Holds Public Grievance Redressal Meeting
- IAF set to celebrate its 92nd Raising Day
- Children should taught about importance of wildlife: MP Governor
- ‘Rising Rajasthan’ pre-summit of Mines Department to be theme-based
- CBI files interim report before Delhi High Court in coaching centre deaths
Lenten season commences
City-based techie Justin Jose will abstain from non-vegetarian food from Wednesday for Lent, a 40-day period of atonement and self-denial ahead of Easter.\"Our entire family gives up meat in all forms and fasts during Lent,\" Justin said. Ash Wednesday, on February 10, marked the beginning of the period of mourning, and fasting for the Christian community. Thousands like him will begin the fasting p
City-based techie Justin Jose will abstain from non-vegetarian food from Wednesday for Lent, a 40-day period of atonement and self-denial ahead of Easter."Our entire family gives up meat in all forms and fasts during Lent," Justin said. Ash Wednesday, on February 10, marked the beginning of the period of mourning, and fasting for the Christian community. Thousands like him will begin the fasting period that ends on Holy Thursday, the fifth day of Holy Week leading up to Easter.
The day began at 6.30 or 7am in churches, where during services, priests smeared ash on the foreheads of the devotees to denoting ‘one is dust, and to dust one shall return’.The ashes come from the burning of the palms of the previous Palm Sunday, which occurs on the Sunday before Easter. Palm Sunday marks Jesus's return to Jerusalem, when people waved palm branches to celebrate his arrival. The ashes are mixed with holy water or oil.
The act of applying ashes on the foreheads of believers is a sign of repentance and humility. Traditionally, believers choose to leave the ashes on their foreheads for the rest of the day as a witness that all people are sinners in need of repentance, and that through Christ, all sins are forgiven, believers said.
"During this period, believers are encouraged to focus on spiritual renewal and reflect on Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins," said Fr Charles, St Francis Xavier Church, Bolaram. Usually, fasting requires observers to abstain from meat consumption.
But many followers make personal vows of abstinence, such as giving up cigarettes, chocolate, or carbonated drinks. Some make a vow not to indulge in gossip or simply practice greater humility. The fasting is not bound by strict rules."It is mostly free-flowing, both fasting and sacrificing. It is a form of repentance that many Christians take upon themselves that also serves as a good form of detoxing," Justin said.
"The period of fasting for 40 days is mentioned on Matthew 4, where Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness praying and fasting. During this period, we acknowledge ourselves as sinners and learn how to have control over things that do not belong to God," Fr Charles said.
