from Daijiworld's special correspondent in Panaji - Wednesday, 7-45 pm

Panaji, Mar 1: As the carnival festivities ended in Goa on Tuesday, from Wednesday, Mar 1, the long Lenten season began in Goa with a good part of Christian brethren abstaining from eating meat during the season.

"Lent is a forty-day period before Easter, the main feast of the Christian Calendar, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his death on the cross," stated Fr Loyola Pereira, public relations officer of Goa Archbishop's palace here.

All the Churches in Goa on Wednesday had special Masses on the occasion of Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lenten season. The Christian brethren avoid eating meat during the season which goes on for 40 days.

"Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. The central symbol of that day is the ash which is imposed on the Catholics' foreheads during the Mass. It reminds them of the dust from which God created humanity and to which humanity is destined to return," Fr Pereira said.

"It is a season for soul-searching and repentance, of reflection and taking stock. It is a season when one is invited to return to God, after estranging oneself through selfish and sinful pursuits," Fr Pereira stated.

Lent is marked by the practice of penance and fasting - both from food and festivities - and of prayerful reflection on the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus. Traditionally, no celebrations are held during this period.

"It also invites the Christians to be generous in almsgiving and in helping those in need. The Church believes that true participation in the mystery of the resurrection of Christ is possible only after one partakes in his self-denial and suffering.,'' said the Father.

In Goa, one of the characteristic devotions during Lent is the "Way of the Cross" – a spiritual exercise wherein the faithful are helped to meditate on the Suffering and Death of Christ. It takes place every Friday of Lent in every Church, besides Chapels and even village wards.

According to Fr Pereira, the other noteworthy Lenten devotion is the "Santos Passos" (The Holy Steps) , wherein the faithful attend Mass and are led in meditation through the visual aid of larger-than-life-size statues of Christ in different postures (called stations), representing key moments in the last 24 hours of his life (Suffering) on earth.