President joins Easter celebrants as thousands turn out, throng open spaces

Georgetown, GINA, March 24, 2008

In what could be described as one of the largest Easter celebrations ever in the country, Head of State, Bharrat Jagdeo today joined Guyanese who turned out in their thousands with their families to fly kites as part of the country’s Easter celebrations.
            The President first proceeded to the Guyana National Stadium Providence where he joined a number of Guyanese and overseas visitors to witness the third day’s activities of the Digicel-sponsored cricket Test match between West Indies and Sri Lanka.
            However, the larger part of the crowd could be observed at the National Park and the Georgetown Seawall where not many open spaces remained. Even cricket grounds and side street areas seemed to be fully occupied with kite flyers. 
            President Jagdeo, after witnessing the cricket match, moved along the seawall from Kingston, then up the Rupert Craig Highway, where Guyanese from all walks could be seen enjoying themselves as thousands of kites dotted the afternoon sky.
            The National Park was full of families when the President later proceeded there where he mingled with kite flyers and picnickers who seemed to want to ensure that their families enjoyed the last of the Guyanese religious holidays over the past five-day period.
            This year, Hindus, Muslims and Christians observed and celebrated Youman-Nabi, Phagwah and Easter holidays in a consecutive manner, with Youman Nabi being observed on Thursday last, followed by Good Friday, Phagwah and Easter today.
            On February 23 last, Republic Day, many Guyanese stayed in their homes and did not join in Mashramani celebrations as the period was soon after two massacres had occurred at Lusignan on the East Coast Demerara and Bartica in Region Seven.  
            However, today’s event proved to be a different scenario. 
            Easter is a religious occasion to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the kites flying symbolise Jesus’ Resurrection and his later ascent to Heaven.
   Guyanese countrywide mark the occasion by converging at the beaches, seawalls, parks and other open areas for kite flying and picnics.
The Crucifixion of Christ as told in the gospels was pronounced by Pontius Pilate, of the Roman Empire who condemned Jesus to death for his proclamation as the ‘Messiah’ or the Lord’s appointed one, and for preaching to the world that he is the Son of God who would bring deliverance to mankind.
Jesus was crucified on Mount Calvary where he was nailed to a wooden cross and endured inhumane suffering before he died and was buried in a sealed tomb.  His miraculous Resurrection occurred three days after.

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