By Felix Anthony

Deomali, April 2, 2026: About 400 youth from a northeastern Indian diocese are taking part in a five-day prayer program seeking religious harmony and world peace.

“Your prayers are needed for our country now more than ever,” Bishop George Palliparambil of Miao said April 1 while opening the third edition of Youth Pascha at St. George Parish in Deomali, Arunachal Pradesh.

The Salesian prelate urged the youth to dedicate the Easter Triduum to praying for the nation’s leaders.

Participants from 30 centers of the diocese, accompanied by priests and women religious, are attending the Holy Week program designed to deepen their spiritual experience of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ.

Bishop Palliparambil highlighted the challenges facing the world and the nation.

“The world in general and our country in particular are passing through a critical phase. War, hatred, social unrest, and religious discrimination, including violence against Christians, are increasingly becoming common. When political interests amplify divisions for electoral gains, it threatens the social fabric and peaceful coexistence of our people,” he said.

In this context, the youth prayed that the Holy Spirit guide the country’s leaders, especially in light of emerging concerns such as the proposed bill to regulate overseas funds, which critics fear could undermine constitutional guarantees.

Encouraging the participants, the bishop added, “Dear young people, your prayers today will go a long way in these troubled times.”

A delegate from Khonsa parish told Matters India that praying for the country’s leaders has given “a new purpose to our gathering” this year.

Youth Pascha, first introduced in the diocese in 2024, has become an annual spiritual initiative following its positive impact and enthusiastic response from young people, said Father Linus Jamuda, the program coordinator.

The program, he said, aims to help participants experience the mysteries of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum more closely, with animation sessions and inputs on topics such as health, addictions, personality development and liturgy.

“It is heartening to see young people come together to pray for peace and religious harmony,” Jamuda told Matters India on the opening day.