Deeksha culminates on Easter day

Saturday, 22 Mar 2008 18:22
U. Sudhakar Reddy
Hyderabad: Like Alpha and Omega which symbolise the beginning and the end inscribed on the Paschal candle, incensed in the Churches in the Easter night, vigil has lot to do with the Deeksha taken up by the Christians in the State during Lent that culminates on the day of ‘Resurrection of Christ’.
After the 40-day Deeksha, the faithful start a new lease of life and put an end to the old habits. After the rise of Pentecostal movement in the church, it is time for Bhakti culture in the Church to rise. Tappassu Kala Deeksha or Lent Deeksha taken up by Christians, particularly the Catholics in the State, has a lot of similarity with Ayyapa Deeksha and Bhavani Deeksha of Hindus and Nazirite Oath in the Old Testament.
Those who take up the Deeksha have to follow a set of rules that include not consuming alcohol, giving up smoking, keep ing away from eating non-vegetarian food, walk barefoot, always wearing a cross, taking just one meal in a day, not shaving or getting hair cuts, abstaining from sexual pleasures and so on. Hyderabad Archdiocese Vicar, General Fr. Thumma Solomon, says , "In Lent, most of the faithful fast but a few take up Deeksha. Gradually, many believers are inclining towards this, including a lot of young people.
Deeksha is more popular in semi-urban and rural parishes. On Easter, a new fire is lit that symbolises a new beginning from darkness to light and from death to life resembling the philosophy of the Deeksha."
The ceremonial lighting of paschal candle in churches is an imitation of a Jewish custom. On Easter night, people are asked to repeat their baptismal promise by rejecting Satan and his empty promises and accepting Jesus as their Lord and revesting with the ‘new man’ after removing the vestments of the ‘old man’.
Kalvaragiri Shrine near Jeedimetla has 45 devotees who have taken up Deeksha this time. Kalvaragiri Shrine priest in the city Fr. Y Thomas says, "Deeksha has roots in the Old Testament in the Book of Numbers Chapter 6 where the Nazirite Oath is taken. Those who take up Deeksha also keep away themselves from social vices and many come out of them permanently." Those who take up Deeksha follow a dress code like wearing maroon, white and blue shirts. Interestingly Women of all ages take up Deeksha.
After the fast, Easter brings them joy and hope.
Incensing Paschal Candle and cracking Easter egg is a symbol of new life in the same way that hatching of an egg is. The Easter egg is traditionally red to symbolise the blood of Christ.
The city’s heritage churches like St Mary’s Church in Secunderabad (since 1854), St Francis Xavier Church in Yapral (since 1876), St John Maria Vienna Church in Bhoiguda (since 1939) and Sacred Hearth Church (since 1929) still follow the old traditions of egg-cracking and distributing hot cross buns.
Sacred Heart Church at Lalaguda comprising mostly Anglo Indians follow the traditions of the Holy Week and distribute Hot Cross Buns on Maundy Thursday to large number of people.