Christians in Kerala Sunday celebrated Easter with traditional piety, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion on Good Friday.
The faithful congregated in large numbers for mid-night Easter mass in churches across the state, where senior prelates and vicars gave out the message of hope and promise as symbolised by the sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of God's creations.
Easter also marked the end of the season of Lent, when the devout abstain from material comforts to gain spiritual strength.
Since the Palm Sunday last week, churches and Christian homes has been reverberating with prayers, recalling the final days of Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem to crucifixion on Calvary.
In the state capital, head of Syro Malankara Church Catholicos Baselius Mar Cleemis led the prayers in St Mary's Cathedral and Archbishop Soosai Packyam led the special service at St Joseph's Cathedral.
Special Easter services were held in churches of other congregations like Orthox and Jacobite.
Kerala Governor R S Gavai and Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan greeted people on the occasion.