Christians worldwide are today observing Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season, a period dedicated to fasting, prayer, reflection, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter.
The Lenten season, which lasts approximately six weeks, commenced with special church services where believers received ashes on their foreheads in the form of a cross.
The ashes, a symbol of repentance and mortality, are traditionally prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.
Lent is a significant time in the Christian liturgical calendar, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Thursday evening.
It is observed as a period of spiritual renewal, focusing on prayer, acts of charity, and self-discipline.
It is also a time of repentance, during which Christians reflect on their faith, seek reconciliation, and prepare their hearts for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.
