Skip to content Skip to navigation

Northeast India’s Youth Pasch Concludes with Brahmaputra River Cruise

By CM Paul |

Seven hundred young participants from across Northeast India concluded their five-day Holy Week retreat with a symbolic Easter morning river pilgrimage on the Brahmaputra river, marking the 18th edition of Youth Pasch.

Organized by Don Bosco Institute (DBI) Guwahati, the annual retreat offers young people a space for spiritual renewal, reflection, and fellowship.

Youth Pasch immerses participants in the Paschal Mystery—the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus—through engaging liturgies, prayer, dramatic enactments and interactive sessions. This year’s event, held from 16 to 20 April, embraced the Salesian Jubilee Year theme, “Anchored in Hope, Pilgrims with Young People,” under the retreat’s central focus, “Journeying with Jesus.”

“Youth Pasch has given me a renewed sense of purpose,” shared a participant from Meghalaya. “I came here searching for answers, and I leave knowing that faith is about walking with hope, even in uncertainty.”

Opening on Wednesday, the retreat welcomed students from across the region with icebreaking activities and an address from Fr. Cletus Sebastian, Executive Director of DBI. Holy Thursday featured meditative prayer, and Praise and Worship sessions led by the DBI team, followed by insightful talks from Fr. John Barman MSFS, Director of the North Eastern Regional Youth Commission. The day culminated in a solemn reenactment of The Lord’s Supper, leading into Eucharistic adoration presided over by Salesian Provincial Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal.

Good Friday events started with Salesian Fr Bivan Rodrigues, Vice Provincial of Guwahati leading prayer and meditation followed by Praise and Worship held in the amphitheater leading to enacted way of the cross culminating in the live crucifixion on Oil India Hill. Penitential service and celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation was followed by Good Friday service led by Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati. The evening concluded with Easter Cantata, a lively musical performance on Jesus’ last days by a guest troupe from northeast India.

“Carrying the cross through the streets made me realize how much love and sacrifice shape our faith,” reflected a participant from Manipur. “It wasn’t just a re-enactment—it was a call to live with compassion.”

Holy Saturday continued with meditative devotions led by Fr. Klisterwel Songthiang, culminating in the Easter Vigil, presided over by Fr. Raj Kapoor, Chancellor of the Guwahati Archdiocese.

The retreat culminated on Easter Sunday with the solemn Eucharistic Celebration led by Fr. V.M. Thomas, Founder-Director of DBI. Following Mass, participants embarked on the Galilee Experience, symbolically retracing Jesus’ post-resurrection moments in a two-boat pilgrimage on the Brahmaputra River—bringing the retreat to a powerful and reflective close.

Easter Sunday’s Galilee Experience saw participants symbolically retracing Jesus’ post-resurrection moments in a two-boat pilgrimage on the Brahmaputra, closing the retreat with deep reflection and celebration of Easter joy.

“Sailing on the Brahmaputra felt like stepping into the Gospel itself,” shared a participant from Arunachal. “It reminded me that faith is a journey, not just a destination.”

Now in its 18th year, Youth Pasch continues to be a transformative space for young people, deepening their faith and fostering meaningful connections within the vibrant Easter message.

  • 17340 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Don Bosco Migrant Workers Desk Opened

Guwahati: Salesian Province of Guwahati inaugurated Don Bosco Bharosa, the Migrant Desk, on 24th February 2021. “Bharosa in Hindi language means trust and Don Bosco Brand is trusted by both job seekers and job providers,” says director of Bosco Reach Out Fr Jayaprakash. On the working of Migrant Desk Fr. Jayapraksh explains “Our North Eastern desks will network with similar desks in others parts of the country. As the migrant youth from North East India are spread out in all major cities of India, the main objective of Don Bosco Bharosa will be to provide safe migration to the youth of North East India. If the migrant youth of our region face any problem in any part of the country...

Handlooms bring hope to Lengopara artisans

Guwahati, 22 February 2021: Bosco Reach Out, a Guwahati based rural development NGO distributed 80 handlooms and accessories for trained artisans at Lengopara area in Goalpara district of Assam, 22 February 2021. The distribution programme was part of BRO’s on ongoing project SFRUTI supported by Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Govt. of India.  “We have distributed 80 Jacqard looms and accessories among the beneficiaries for their income generating activities to ensure their sustainable livelihood,” says BRO Executive director Fr. A. Jayaprakash. He urged recipients to work hard and produce quality product to achieve the objectives of the project. The...

Radio Salesian Journalist makes to India Book of Records

A Radio journalist working with the first community radio in the Darjeeling Hills has staked his claim and snatched a place in the India Book of Records, 28 September 2020. Program Coordinator and founder member of Radio Salesian, the first Nepali language broadcasting Community Radio in India, RJ Samir Chhetri, a native of Sonada has secured his place in the book of records. The India Book of Records states, “RJ Samir is the first RJ of the first community radio run by a college in North Bengal and entire northeast India.” “This recognition of RJ Samir is a matter of pride for our community radio and inspiration for younger radio journalists to make their mark,” says station...

Solo Song Film honours Mother Teresa on 110th birthday

Kolkata, 23 August 2020 — A Kolkata artist has come up with a new genre song dedicated to Mother Teresa of Calcutta to mark the saints 110th birthday, 26 August 1910. The new genre is called Folktronica - a type of music comprising various elements of folk music and electronica, often featuring uses of acoustic instruments – especially stringed instruments – and incorporating hip hop, electronic or dance rhythms, although it varies based on influences and choice of sounds. Made in the pandemic’s lock down times Korak Day of Kolkata calls it “Solo Song Film Art” entitled Nirmal Hriday - an English Bangla music video dedicated to all who volunteered for Mother Teresa’s Works and helped...

School assembly goes to children’s homes

Agartala: A Salesian Sisters’ school in northeast India has come up with a novel idea to stay connected with children during the Covid-19 lockdown times. The Sisters reach Monday school assembly to children’s homes through social media. The idea was born, on the feast day of their foundress St. Mary Mazzarello, 13 May, 2020. Almost 50 days since the Lockdown due to Covid 19, and the Sisters missed the children – both boarders and day scholars, who used to be so much of their life.  “Our community and the entire environment used to be filled with joy and happiness, of fun and laughter and youthfulness,” recalls Sr. Albrida, Principal of Auxilium Girls School Agartala, capital of...

Radio Salesian, UNICEF to spread awareness on COVID-19 in the hills

Radio Salesian (90.8) - The voice of the Hills - run by Salesian College Sonada has been selected as a partner in raising awareness about COVID-19 in a national project sponsored by UNICEF. Titled ‘Mission Corona’, the five-month initiative will feature a 25-minute weekly programme in Nepali language that will focus on issues related to the usage of masks, home quarantine, physical distancing, building immune system, and elderly care, among others. “During this unprecedented public health emergency, as community radio, we can inform and educate people on the impending danger of the pandemic through ‘Mission Corona,’” says station director, Fr. C.M. Paul.  With a transmitter...

Archbishop Menamparampil nominated for Journalism Award

Guwahati: The Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) will honour noted peace activist Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, conferring its prestigious annual ‘Louis Careno Award for Excellence in journalism’ for his bold writings against communalism and fundamentalism that is gaining ground globally. The Award will be conferred on the Archbishop by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurien Joseph, during the 25th National Convention of Christian Journalists, organized by the ICPA, scheduled to be held in Delhi, on 29 February 2020.  “Archbishop Menamparampil’s name is synonymous with peace, inter-community dialogue and social harmony. His incisive, thought-provoking writings on...

Industry-College Partnership helps prevent female trafficking in closed gardens

Over a conversation between the legendary tea planter Mr Rajah Banerjee of Rimpaocha Tea Siliguri and Campus Minister at Salesian College Sonada Fr. C.M. Paul on the impending peril of adolescent females being trafficked from the closed tea gardens in the Darjeeling Hills was born the Industry-College Partnership to provide skill training. “Education and skill training is the only solution, to prevent them [girls] from falling easy prey to stalking flesh traders who lure the unsuspecting girls with false promises of quick bucks and better future outside,” says Salesian College Principal Dr. (Fr.) George Thadathil. Mr Banerjee who calls Makaibari the first tea estate to go organic his...

Peace Award for Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil

Guwahati:  The Delhi-based International Human Rights Council has announced an “Ambassador for Peace” Award for retired Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati. The Award will be conferred on 9th December 2019 in New Delhi in the presence of invitees from all over the country and abroad. One of the earlier recipients of the Award is the Dalai Lama among many other internationally known figures. International Human Rights Council is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, the organization gives voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable...

Cardinal Charles Bo Concludes Week-long Visit to Northeast India

Guwahati: Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo concluded his weeklong visit to the Northeast India on Wednesday, November 13, 2019,  after a concluding concelebrated Mass in Salesian Provincial House, Guwahati. Cardinal Bo, the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) and Archbishop of Yangon, made his first ever visit to the region,  known as the cradle of the Salesian missions in India.   Cardinal Bo was the main celebrant of the Eucharist and  annual Eucharistic procession which was attended by some 2,00,000 people from the region.  The Cardinal won the hearts of the faithful of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills with the Eucharistic...