Easter Sunday brings families, friends together

Sharjah - Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his burial

Thousands of Christians flocked to churches across the country as part of their Easter Sunday celebrations.
Special prayers were held at churches such as at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai, St, Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi and St Michael's Catholic Church in Sharjah.
In the Christian tradition, Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his burial.
Alex Nilamboor, a TV cameraman, said that his wife and children spent Easter at Marthoma Church in Church in Sharjah for mass early on Sunday morning.
"Normally during Easter we have a family reunion, with cousins who live in Al Ain..other family will call up or Whatsapp Easter message. We have a special Easter menu of ghee rice and chicken."
Another local resident, Twinkle Tom, went for a 3am mass at St Mary's Church in Oud Metha and then returned home. He took the day off from work at a shop in the gold souq for the occasion.
"Many families have come to the UAE for Easter celebrations," he said, noting that relatives came to join him from their home in Kottayam, Kerala.
"We have special food for lunch and in the evening, we go out for dinner in a restaurant," he said.
Others, such as Filipino assistant marketing manager Christopher Inigo, had to go to work, but found time to celebrate with fellow churchgoers in the community.
"It is a happy family and community celebration," he said. "After office I (always) go out with my wife and sons."
Inigo noted that he has spent every the last nine Easters celebrating here in the UAE, alongside other colleagues from the Phillippines and India.
"If only we had time to cook, but due to our hectic work schedule we go for an Easter feast in a good Filipino restaurant," he noted.
"We celebrate by eating after a month of fasting (for lent), and abstaining from social media, gadgets, and meat."
Like many Christians, Sapna Anu B. George began her Easter celebrations the previous day by going out, shopping, and preparing a special meal, including appam, Kerala's unique bread item, and duck.
"Our friends and relatives also joined for dinner," she said.
sathish@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE