New Delhi: Extending his greetings to the citizens on the occasion of Easter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wished that the spirit of joy and brotherhood be furthered in society.
"Happy Easter! We recall the thoughts and ideals of Jesus Christ and the emphasis on social justice as well as compassion. May the spirit of joy and brotherhood be furthered in our society," PM Modi said in a tweet.
President Ram Nath Kovind also greeted people and said that Easter inspires citizens to follow the path of forgiveness, sacrifice, and love.
"Easter greetings to everyone! An occasion to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter inspires us to follow the path of forgiveness, sacrifice and love. May the teachings of Christ inspire all to work together for the betterment of entire humanity," he tweeted.
Easter is celebrated by Christians all over the world in the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As mentioned in the Bible, Christ was crucified on the day of Good Friday and buried in a grave after his last supper which is commemorated as Maundy Thursday. However, on the third day when his disciples visited his grave, they found that the grave was empty. The day marks the triumph of Christ over death and this also makes him the 'Son of God'.
The day is celebrated with pomp and grandeur every year. Traditions like church visits, baking hot cross buns and decorating Easter eggs are symbolic of Christ's death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb. It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
Spring equinox occurs when the Sun is exactly above the equator, thus making the day and night of equal lengths.