Easter 2024 Date, History, Significance, Celebration

Easter 2024

Referred as one of the most prominent festivals of the Christian community, Easter is celebrated with utmost joy and happiness throughout the world. Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday falls in the Christian holy week that includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. On this day, Lord Christ resurrected as a supernatural entity after leaving his mortal form on Good Friday. On this day, Christians visit churches and recite verses from the holy Bible for offering prayers to the almighty.

In 2024, Good Friday will fall on the 29th March and Easter will be celebrated on 31th March.

Easter History and Significance

Easter 2024

Easter falls in the holy week of Christians which begins with Maundy Thursday, which is observed as the day when Christ had his last supper. On Friday i.e. Good Friday, Christ took his last breath as a mortal. Legends state that Christ paid for the sins of his followers with his own life.

Right after 2-days of his death, Jesus resurrected as an extramundane being in Jerusalem where his mortal avatar was crucified and given death. Therefore, Christians celebrate the day of Christ’s resurrection as the Easter Sunday.

Many Christians still rely on the Julian calendar which varies from Gregorian (Western) calendar. Therefore, many Christians who follow Julian calendar observe Easter, a week later and call it, ‘Orthodox Easter’.

Easter Celebrations across India

Easter 2024

As per a survey, Christians comprise only 3 per cent of the overall population of India. Yet, this day is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm. Christians visit churches on this holy occasion for offering their prayers to Jesus Christ.

At the church, priests recall the suffering through which Christ went for cleaning the sinful deeds of human beings, followed by the magical story of his resurrection. Decorated eggs and bunnies are gifted to each other as a token of prosperity, on this day.

Along with Easter eggs and bunnies, Christians gift chocolate cakes, flowers and colourful lanterns to their loved ones. In cities like Goa and Mumbai, Christian communities organize music and dance functions for celebrating this holy festival.

As many states declare Good Friday as a Gazetted holiday, people usually opt for a weekend getaway during this time.

Best Places to Observe Easter Celebrations in India

Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type

Festivals in India Day Date Holiday Type
New Year’s Day Mon 01-Jan Restricted Holiday
Lohri Sat 13-Jan Restricted Holiday
Makar Sankranti Sun 14-Jan Restricted Holiday
Pongal Mon 15-Jan Restricted Holiday
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Wed 17-Jan Restricted Holiday
Republic Day Fri 26-Jan Gazetted Holiday
Losar Sat 10-Feb Restricted Holiday
Basant Panchmi Wed 14-Feb Restricted Holiday
Guru Ravidas Jayanti Sat 24-Feb Gazetted Holiday
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Wed 6-Mar Restricted Holiday
Mahashivratri Fri 8-Mar Gazetted Holiday
Holi Mon 25-March Gazetted Holiday
Good Friday Fri 29-Mar Gazetted Holiday
Easter Day Sun 31-Mar Restricted Holiday
Gudi Padwa Tue 9-Apr Restricted Holiday
Eid-ul-Fitr Wed 10-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Vaisakhi (Vishu) Sat 13-Apr Restricted Holiday
Rama Navami Wed 17-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Mahavir Jayanti Sun 21-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Rabindra Jayanti Wed 8-May Restricted Holiday
Buddha Purnima (Vesak) Thu 23-May Gazetted Holiday
Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) Mon 17-Jun Restricted Holiday
Rath Yatra Sun 7-Jul Gazetted Holiday
Muharram (Ashura) Wed 17-Jul Gazetted Holiday
Independence Day Thu 15-Aug Gazetted Holiday
Parsi New Year’s Day (Nauraz) Thu 15-Aug Public Holiday
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) Mon 19-Aug Restricted Holiday
Janmashtami Mon 26-Aug Restricted Holiday
Ganesh Chaturthi Sat 7-Sep Restricted Holiday
Onam Sun 15-Sep Restricted Holiday
Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad Mon 16-Sep Gazetted Holiday
Gandhi Jayanti Wed 02-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Dussehra Sat 12-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Valmiki Jayanti Thu 17-Oct Restricted Holiday
Karva Chauth Sun 20-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Dhanteras Tue 29-Oct Restricted Holiday
Kali Puja Thu 31-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Halloween Day Thu 31-Oct No Holiday
Diwali Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Lakshmi Puja Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Karnataka Rajyotsava Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Kerala Piravi Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Govardhan Puja Sat 2-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Bhai Dooj Sun 3-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Chhath Puja Thu 7-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Guru Nanak Jayanti Fri 15-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Christmas Wed 25-Dec Public Holiday