By Matters India Reporter
Varanasi, April 16, 2022: A group of 40 Hindu men and women on April 15, Good Friday enacted the Passion of Christ in the northern Indian city of Varanasi, the heartland of Hinduism.
“Varanasi presented a soothing picture of religious harmony, peace and love amid a gloomy scenario of communal polarization,” says Father Anand Mathew, the brain behind the program who directs Vishwa Jyoti Communications in Varanasi.
An estimated 12,000 people watched the play staged at Matri Dham Ashram, the renowned spirituality center where thousands of people from various faith communities gather in large number.
“The most unique aspect of this passion play was that it was performed as part of the Good Friday liturgy, substituting the traditional passion reading,” Father Mathew, a member of the Indian Missionary Society, told Matters India April 16.
Mukesh Jhanjharwala, who played Jesus Christ, has been performing that role since 2002. He is a practicing Hindu by faith, but has devotion to Christ and respect for the Christian community, Father Mathew explained.
The roles of chief priests Annas and Caiphas were performed by Sandeep Kumar and Ranjeet Kumar. Pramod Patel, another Hindu who performed as Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, was seen sobbing, behind the curtain, after condemning Jesus to crucifixion, Father Mathew said.
The 135-minute play began with Judas conspiring with the chief priests for the arrest of Jesus. Other scenes included Jesus’s entry into the garden of Gethsemane with his three beloved disciples, his prayer and arrest.
In another scene, Jesus was dragged into Sanhedrin where the religious leaders debated for and against Jesus. He is then examined by Pilate under the pressure of the religious leaders and the crowd of Jewish people.
The play also included the Stations of the Cross, during which the devotees repeated prayers.
Scenes also included the seven words uttered from the Cross by Jesus, his death on the Cross, the lowering of the body and placing it in the tomb.
“The scenes moved the audience to tears and sobs,” Father Mathew said.
The priest said the play’s script is a synthesis of the passion narration in the four gospels, with lyrics sung with melody and melancholy.
Pooja Patel and Manisha Pal who performed in the enactment, testified that they walked with Jesus carrying their sufferings and pain on his back, and that consoled and empowered them to accept suffering as part of their journey to salvation.
Ravikant said Good Friday is an occasion to renew his commitment to love others as Jesus lived his sacrificial love on the Cross.
This enactment was preceded by exhortation by Indian Missionary Society Father Anildev, who narrated the meaning of suffering with his own life testimony.
The play was followed by veneration of the cross held at various spots, because of the large number of devotees. The ceremonies, which began at 10 am ended at 4:30 p.m.