Northeast Desk, 24th March: Palm Sunday was joyously observed on Sunday across Mizoram, marking a significant day in the Christian calendar. The day’s festivities commenced with a vibrant march in the morning, featuring congregations from various churches and denominations waving palm branches and chanting “Hosana in the highest.”
Special church services were held throughout the state, adorned with melodious choirs and heartfelt prayers. Palm Sunday holds deep significance for Christians worldwide, commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. According to Christian belief, Jesus was welcomed by cheering crowds who waved palm branches and laid them on the ground along his path.
In Mizoram, the tradition of Palm Sunday dates back to March 25, 1934, when Welsh missionary Katie Hughes, known as Pi Zaii in Mizo, gathered children from Mission Veng church for a historic march. They paraded through the streets, waving palm branches and singing hymns. The tradition was further enriched on April 10, 1938, when two church congregations merged, chanting verses from the Book of Mark, chapter 11, verses 9 and 10.
Since 1938, Palm Sunday has been an annual observance across Mizoram, uniting church members of all ages in a collective celebration. Participants, from children to seniors, partake in the march, carrying palm branches and echoing the timeless verses: “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” The tradition continues to resonate with the faithful, symbolizing reverence and devotion to their faith.
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