Ash Wednesday 2023 Chalisa Period: Today, on 22 February 2023, Ash Wednesday i.e. Ash Wednesday is being celebrated. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for Christians. It is also called the Day of Ashes, which is 40 days before Easter Sunday.
Ash Wednesday is a very special day for the Catholic Church. It is believed that today’s prayers promote change, sacrifice and ideal in people’s lives. People of the Christian community pray in the church today and after that ashes are applied on the forehead of the devotees. From today for the whole forty days, people prepare for Easter by remembering the love, sacrifice, suffering, death etc. of Jesus while praying, sacrificing, penance, virtuous work and evaluating their lives.
How is ash prepared for ash wednesday
Preparation of ashes to be applied on the forehead on Ash Wednesday Date palm leaves brought on the date of last year’s date are kept throughout the year and for next year’s Ash Wednesday its ashes are made by burning. This ash is used to bless the devotees on the day of Ash Wednesday.
Generally, the priest of the church puts the mark of the cross with ashes on the forehead of the people. Applying ashes on the forehead, the priest says – You have come from the soil and will be mixed in the soil. After applying ashes to the forehead, Christians take a vow that they will spend their lives in fasting, prayer, charity, and follow the teachings of Jesus.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent
According to the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ spent forty days and forty nights praying and fasting in the desert. Following this incident, Chalisa period is celebrated. During this time people prepare for Easter or Pascha festival by praying, fasting and atonement.
Period of Lent Feast 2023
Today, on February 22, Lent has also started from Ash Wednesday. It is a period of preparation to be able to celebrate Easter. Lent is also called a period of purification and enlightenment. But there is confusion about when Lent will end. Because according to some church priests, the end of Lent will be on Holy Thursday, April 6, 2023. So there some are telling Good Friday 7th April 2023, Holy Saturday 8th April 2023 etc. Although Lent is usually a period of up to 46 days, in which devotees fast for 40 days and do not fast on 6 Sundays.
Christians do not celebrate for 40 days from the beginning of Lent
Today, along with Ash Wednesday, Lent festival has also started. People of the Christian community will no longer celebrate any celebration or ceremony for the entire 40 days. This is called the Lent period, the Easter period, the Great Fast or the Chalisa. During this, programs like marriages, ceremonies or parties etc. will not be organized for the entire 40 days. The baby may be christened, but there is no celebration or party. The 40 days of Chalisa or Lent festival are spent in virtuous work, remembering the suffering period of Lord Jesus and praying.
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