Christians celebrate Palm Sunday to commemorate holy week

Christians in Thiruvananthapuram city of Kerala observed Palm Sunday or Oshana festival on Sunday to commemorate the beginning of holy week, ahead of Easter. Hundreds of devotees walked solemnly in a procession to St. Joseph's Metropolitan Cathedral to offer prayers on the occasion. A large number of devotees took out the procession holding palm fronds blessed by the priest to honour the day. Meanwhile, Pope Francis led the world's Roman Catholics in Palm Sunday celebrations by paying tribute to those killed for their faith, a reference to the victims of Islamic State militants. Christians believe Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd the week before he rose from the dead. After the mass, some devotees hang the blessed palms inside their houses in the belief that it will ward off evil spirits.