Mumbai, April 24 (IANS) Christians across Mumbai welcomed Easter Sunday with a midnight mass and broke their fast with a traditional feast. Marzipan sweets and Easter eggs were served in many households.

"The Easter egg symbolises Christ's resurrection and new life," city resident Michael Pintoo said.

Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday. It also marks the end of the austere period of Lent, when devotees avoid consuming certain food items, including eggs. The fast is broken after the midnight mass on Easter eve with cakes and Easter eggs.

"In contrast to the simple food during Lent, Easter heralds a feast with rich food," Pintoo said.

Sunday morning saw Christians attending the morning mass, after which they visited their friends and family.

Rachel Fernandes from suburban Borivli said she was busy setting up a table full of goodies, including cakes, Easter eggs and marzipan sweets for the guests.

"Marzipan is a mix of sugar, ground almonds, cashews and vanilla essence. Most of my friends and relatives feast on the sweets I make every year. Treating friends and relatives with goodies is the best way to get the Easter feast started," she said.

For the family of Binoo Francis, Easter is all about the big family lunch cooked by the lady of the house.

"My wife cooks this delicious lunch of our favourite non-vegetarian dishes. My children are young and they don't observe Lent, but my wife and I have been observing Lent since last 10 years," he said.

Around 800,000 of Mumbai's population of over 20 million are Christians.

Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan also has greeted people on the occasion.

"The life and teachings of Jesus Christ continue to inspire every generation of people and offer new hope that good will overcome evil. Through his supreme sacrifice, Jesus demonstrated god's unconditional love for humanity," he said in a statement.