Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 14: It has been 27 years that without fail, every Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross live as a musical is enacted on the streets of Khar, Santacruz (East and West), Vakola, Kalina and Kurla. Tens of thousands of Christians join in the walking pilgrimage on this day of fast, prayer, penance and abstinence.

Thousands of kilowatts of sound and special effects are effectively deployed to bring the arrest, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to life.

A dramatic representation aimed to vividly portray the happenings at Calvary, over 2000 years ago, by enacting 15 songs on the streets, was a highlight. The four-hour programme was a rich spiritual experience for at least 30,000 of those who attended and many thousands more who witnessed it. The 15 stations of the Cross highlight scenes on the way - The Agony in the Garden and Jesus before Pilot’s Court, Jesus Meets His Mother, Simon, Veronica and Weeping Women, The 3 Falls, Stripping, Crucifixion, Laying in the Tomb and Resurrection.

CROSS and CSF organized the Way of Cross ceremony. CROSS founder president Joseph Dias is the main organizer of the ceremony. The procession started from Sacred Heart Church Khar-W and ended at Santacruz-E.