Nagapattinam, April 5 -- Special Easter Vigil prayers were held at the world-renowned Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, popularly known as the "Rome of the East," to mark the start of Easter Sunday at Velankanni in Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu on Saturday night.

The celebrations began with the Paschal Vigil ceremony. During the ritual, the "Paschal Light," symbolising the resurrection of Jesus Christ, was lit by the Rector of the Basilica, Fr. Irudhayaraj, followed by solemn prayers.

The sacred ceremony drew thousands of devotees from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, who offered prayers and held candles to honour Jesus Christ.

Around midnight, the Basilica auditorium's rooftop witnessed a vivid enactment of t...