At the George Francis Assisi Cathedral in Kochi, hundreds of believers witnessed for the first time the Archbishop washing the feet of women as part of Maundy Thursday rituals followed by traditional churches. Maundy Thursday is celebrated in remembrance of Jesus Christ washing the feet of his 12 disciples before his crucifixion. Breaking away from the centuries-old tradition, Latin catholic churches across India have included women in the ceremonial washing of feet observed on Maundy Thursday, a day before Good Friday.