Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 25: For the 29th consecutive year, Christians Secular Forum (CSF) on Friday March 25 organized the Way of the Cross live on the streets from Sacred Heart Church, Khar (W), a suburb of Mumbai, to mark the observance of Good Friday.

CROSS founder president and CSF general secretary Joseph Dias, was the main organizer of the procession that started at 10.15 am from Sacred Heart Church Khar-W and culminated at 3.30 pm at Santacruz-E.

It has been nearly three decades that the Stations of the Cross as a musical has been enacted on the streets of Khar, Santacruz (East and West), Vakola, Kalina and Kurla. Thousands of Christians joined in the walking pilgrimage on this day of fast, prayer, penance and abstinence.

"You have played a big role in our success of bringing the message of Good Friday to non-Christians, many of whom mistakenly believe it to be a feast day. Thousands of kilowatts of sound and special effects have been effectively deployed to bring the arrest, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to life," said Joseph Diaz to the people who participated.

A dramatic representation vividly portrayed the happenings at Calvary, over 2016 years ago, by enacting 15 songs on the streets. The 5-hour programme was a rich spiritual experience for thousands of those who witnessed it. The 15 Stations of the Cross highlight scenes on the way - The agony in the garden, Jesus before Pilate's Court, Jesus meets his mother, Simon, Veronica and Weeping Women, the 3 falls, stripping, Crucifixion, laying in the tomb and Resurrection.