Today the church celebrates the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven, forty days after his resurrection.

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. (Luke 24:50-53)

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

Here are four Indian artworks on the subject.

The ascension of Jesus in the guise of a priest, 1602-1605. Opaque watercolor on paper, 16.5 x 8 cm. Mughal period, India. Edwin Binney III Collection, San Diego Museum of Art.

Alfred David (“A. D.”) Thomas (1907-1989) , The Ascension.

Untitled batik by P. Solomon Raj (1921- ).

Jyoti Sahi (1944- ), The Ascension.