By Eteteonline Team
A brand-new yearly celebration of faith, culture, and thankfulness has been introduced by the Cross River State government. The State Government has instituted a new yearly event called the “Carnival Parade of Thanksgiving and Festival of Praise,” sometimes referred to as the “Jesus Carnival,” which combines spirituality and culture.
Calabar, Cross River State, has an annual Christian-themed celebration called the “Jesus Carnival” during the Easter season. With a “Festival of Praise” performance and a parade of Thanksgiving, it is a recent addition to the state’s tourism calendar. The ‘Carnival Parade of Thanksgiving and Festival of Praise’ is the official name of the event, which aims to serve as a time for worship and collective thanks.
Governor Senator Bassey Otu and his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, led thousands of people in a joyous parade of praise, prayer, and music as the first edition got underway in Calabar on Easter Monday.
More than a thousand young people march prophetically in Calabar to proclaim the name of Jesus at the Jesus Carnival. It is an annual Christian celebration that includes a march, a musical performance, and a campaign for spiritual and moral renewal.
In Cross River State, Nigeria, Jesus Carnival, a distinctive fusion of religion and culture, is set to grow into a popular tourist destination. He claims that the program is a component of the state’s endeavors to capitalize on its year-round tourism potential.
The Carnival is also in line with Cross River State’s overarching tourism development plan, which aims to strengthen the local economy and promote cultural heritage. The carnival, which will showcase African culture and legacy through music, theater, and creative creation, is anticipated to draw millions of visitors due to its rich cultural landscape and natural beauty.
This special event has formally joined the state’s tourism calendar and is scheduled to occur each Easter season. Governor Bassy Otu flagged off the inaugural event, which was held in Calabar, the state capital, on Easter Monday. In just two years, “Jesus Christ has taken Cross River to unimaginable heights,” announced Governor Otu. “I said that Jesus was our real ruler and that this was a Godly state. From now on, Easter Monday will be dedicated to saying, “Father, I am grateful for the progress You have made in our lives.”
Through a distinctive Christian celebration, the goal is to honor and thank God while advancing culture, faith, and praise. Additionally, the carnival seeks to mix entertainment for a variety of audiences with faith-based programming.
The event was created with the intention of giving Jesus Christ a permanent place in the state’s cultural showcase, according to First Lady Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, amid joyful dancing and lively gospel music. She asserts that Jesus Carnival represents our faith, whereas Carnival Calabar represents our culture. It is a celebration of Christ and an occasion for us to give thanks to Him for His sacrifice.
The Jesus Carnival offers a revered alternative and a lively celebration that combines public thankfulness, cultural pride, and Christian religion, in contrast to the secular Carnival Calabar, which takes place every December. According to the organizers, it was created to commemorate the state’s spiritual development and to give thanks to God for Carnival Calabar’s ongoing success. It will promote spiritual unity and bring Calabar’s youth together for prayer.
“No investment in the things of God is ever wasted,” the governor said, encouraging Christians to continue praying for the state. He also gave kudos to the churches and clergy who showed up in force to support the occasion.
A “Carnival Parade of Thanksgiving” with prayers from participants and a “Festival of Praise” concert with Christian musicians were among the events.
Major monuments and a number of key spots in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South were covered by the procession, including the Mary Slessor Roundabout, Watt Market, Target Street, Nelson Mandela Street, and Millennium Park. The event had a profoundly spiritual component because prayers were said at multiple locations along the route and at different roundabouts.
Cobhams Asuquo, an internationally recognized singer and producer, was the main act of the day’s spectacular gospel concerts, which filled the streets with amazement and worship.
Bishop Josef Bassey, Bishop Emma Isong, Bishop Bassey E. Edem, Apostle Frank Umoh, and Rev. (Dr.) Takis Etim Caiafas, State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), among many others from various Christian backgrounds, led prayers and blessings.
The carnival, a recent addition to the state’s tourism calendar, is intended to be a spiritually meaningful and uplifting event for locals. This event highlights the significance of a new spiritual tourism destination and strengthens Cross River’s position as a state where faith and culture coexist. Easter is no longer just a religious holiday. Additionally, it is a statewide festival of joyous expression and heavenly thanks.
It is significant because the number of tourists and visitors to the state will increase quickly, which will improve our economic situation. Since Cross River is a tourist destination, events ought to take place there year-round. The state is anticipated to gain a great deal from the activities.
The governor’s wife created the Easter carnival, which is a recent addition to the state’s extensive tourism schedule. In addition to providing year-round entertainment for both visitors and tourists to the State, its goals include advancing faith, culture, and tourism.
In this regard, Cross River residents have praised Bishop Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, the state governor’s wife, for her creativity and trailblazing work in the state’s people-oriented initiatives. Bishop Otu made the calculated decision to launch the Easter carnival in order to promote the state’s rich religious and cultural heritage to the world while simultaneously improving its economic standing. The governor’s wife made a calculated and creative decision to introduce the Easter carnival, also known as the Jesus carnival, with the purpose of presenting the state’s rich religious and cultural heritage to the globe.
Add comment