New Delhi, Apr 8 (IANS): It was a Sunday of joy and fervour as the capital celebrated Easter with special prayer services and elaborate feasts. The day marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion.

Huge crowds gathered at churches to attend the midnight Easter mass.

"While Good Friday is the day of sorrow, Easter is all about joy and celebration. It marks the end of the period of Lent or suffering," Joy Matthew, a marketing professional, told IANS.

Through the night, people at churches lit candles, sang Easter hymns, offered prayers and distributed hot cross buns and food packets in their communities.

"The prayer services started soon after midnight as Christ is said to have been resurrected at the break of dawn. After the special midnight mass, we had daylong celebrations with a grand feast," Matthew added.

Following the fasting period, it is believed that Easter is celebrated when the devout abstain from physical comforts to gain spiritual strength.

During the midnight mass, bishops led the services and delivered sermons in various churches of different Christian denominations in the city.

"We had started shopping for the day almost a week before. The feast is extravagant including duck or turkey roast, red wine, and a wide variety of items like meat pies, apple souffle and muffins," Shreeni Jacob, a journalist, told IANS.

For kids, the delight of the day was in hiding and finding colourful Easter eggs, which symbolises the resurrection.

"Usually we buy the eggs from confectionery shops. This year, we decided to decorate them at home and add a surprise element by hiding them," quipped school teacher Annabel Joshua.

"They are not actual eggs, but egg-shaped candies or an egg-shaped shell filled with caramel toffees and other sweets," said Joshua.