Ash Wednesday observed – The Hindu

Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and prayer commenced on March 5 at Thanjai Sacred Heart Cathedral with Thanjai Bishop T. Sagayaraj leading the Ash Wednesday Mass.

According to the faithful, for the next 40 days, the believers will observe special prayers called ‘Way of The Cross’ where the events that led to Jesus’ crucifixion would be traced and prayed upon.

They will bring the palm leaves they carried during the Palm Sunday procession last year and kept safely at their residences to the church on Ash Wednesday. The leaves will be burnt and the ash ‘sanctified’ by the priests will be smeared on the foreheads of the faithful.

The season of Lent culminates with the celebration of Easter prior to which the Palm Sunday event will be observed by the faithful.