Easter Sunday was widely celebrated across Manipur by the Christian community with great joy and various worship programmes were held. Hill districts including Churachandpur and Tamenglong celebrated Easter with great fervour,
In Tamenglong district, a joint Sunrise worship service was held at Haipou Jadonang Park, Tamenglong district, organised by Town Churches Union under the theme ‘He has risen’. Later, a formal Easter Sunday worship programme was held at the respective churches.
During the programme, Tamenglong Baptist Church associate pastor, Rev Lungdapou Riamei and Zeliangrong Baptist Church Tamenglong associate pastor, Rev Chingkhiuluanang Gonmei delivered sermons while Zeliangrong Baptist Church Tamenglong associate pastor, Rev Ashing Panmei gave the Easter greetings.
The Tamenglong Battalion of 44th Assam Rifles under 22 Sector AR/IGAR (East) also celebrated Easter Sunday with the children of Child Care Homes run by Indigenous Women and Children Foundation (IWCF), Tamenglong. The battalion organised Easter Sunday celebrations at Azuram, Dikhuram and Gelnel village. The locals in the areas actively took part in the celebrations along with the troops.
Various fun games were also organised for the children and troops. A Peter Bunny was created at the game site with hidden Easter eggs for the children. Adjutant of AR told IFP that the outreach to children not only brought a pious smile on the children’s innocent faces but brought joy and long-lasting bond of friendship with the Assam Rifles. The 44 Assam Rifles has been regularly reaching out to the children by providing them essential eatables, carrying out sanitation drives and setting up of recreational facilities at their compounds, he added.
In Churachandpur, the Churachandpur Battalion Assam Rifles celebrated Easter Sunday with villagers of Leizangphai village at Thanlon sub-division, Pherzawl district.
The celebration was organised by AR to spread the message of universal love as propagated by Jesus Christ and to foster interaction among people residing in remote areas. It began with Sunday Church Service followed by a song presentation rendered by the children of the village. A sermon on Jesus Christ's message of universal love, harmony and its relevance in today's world was also delivered. Later, Easter refreshment was arranged for all villagers at the end of the function. The event was held at New Testament Baptist Church of Leizangphai.
