On a lovely spring evening on April 5, children and adults gathered at Jesus’ Place for an informal celebration of Easter, when Jesus is said to have risen from death after his crucifixion. The Lord’s Prayer was recited in English, Hindi, Swedish, and Russian by sevadars from India and abroad. Girls from Gobind Sadan recited the Fatiha–the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an–and also led the sangat in singing a song of praises of Jesus composed by Joginder Kaur. Nikolai from Russia blew a long call on the conch, after which Helen and Cristina from Sweden sang two passages from the Beatitudes of Jesus and the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic, the language that Jesus is thought to have spoken. Nikolai brought his hanging chimes and played soothing sounds on them. Then after ardas, sevadars distributed many sweets, fruits, and rooh afza to those who were present, with the blessings of Jesus and Baba Virsa Singh, who always encouraged celebration of all holy days at Gobind Sadan.
Gobind Sadan