By Adeeb Walter
LUCKNOW: As churches all over the world get ready to commemorate Palm Sunday, city churches are also making preparations for the ceremony but most of the members will not be getting palm crosses.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus had entered Jerusalem for one last time before his crucifixion.
According to tradition, church workers collect palm leaves before Easter to make a ‘cross’ with and give it to church members in the Palm Sunday service. However, in recent years, due to deforestation in many areas, palm tress have vanished from the city. Due to this, volunteers are having a hard time finding palm leaves.
Earlier, there were ample palm trees in the city but over the years, the number has reduced. There were some designated spots such as Kukrail forest, SGPGI forest, Old Jail Road and Bandha Road in Khadra where one could find palm trees in large numbers.
Now, church volunteers are compelled to compete with one another for palm leaves because of the shortage.
Reverend Herbert Able of the Central Methodist Church told TOI that due to the shortage, the church will be unable to give palm crosses to devotees.
Reverend Parag Wesley of the Assembly of Believers Church told TOI that instead of giving palm crosses to every member, they will only give away one per family.
“It was very difficult to find palm trees despite hard work by our volunteers. We will try our best to give palm crosses to everyone,” said Reverend EF Baksh of Epiphany Church.
Able said churches have decided to start planting palm trees on Christian properties.
