Good Friday is usually a day-long event for us Kerala Orthodox Christians; the mass runs from 7.30 am to about 3.30 pm. It is a bit longer in the main churches in the UAE since much of the burgeoning crowds of faithful have to do the kumbideel - or worshipping/kneeling before the cross covered in white cloth symbolic of Jesus' burial - and it takes about 2 hours in the second half of the day. To me, that looks like the most sacred part though the procession holding a small wooden cross -- thankfully not hefty like the one carried by Catholics on the same day -- seems just as holy.
Much to Ash's relief, there was no mass braving crowds and the summer sun this year. Owing to the conflict, authorities directed the churches in the main emirates to hold the service online. Outdoor gathering was not permitted even on Palm Sunday, and we had to fit inside the church and auditorium. The two of us did a few token kumbideel while the father was away at work. I belted out the hymns for the day finding special meaning and satisfaction in the one that went "Jalathayezhum joothanmaraal..." (He was crucified by the arrogant/idiotic Jews - not sure if jalatha means idiocy or arrogance). It is more a feeling instituted by my granny whose narration of the crucifixion saga stressed on the Jewish insistence on having poor JC sentenced to death on the Cross.
The mass was over by 1.20 pm. We missed the kanji-payar-papadam combo at church after mass but I made the same for lunch.
Like Dawkins, I like to call myself a cultural Christian. Happy Easter, folks!
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