Evergreen Memories of the Deceased at Milagres Green Graveyard
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (GA)
With inputs from John Monteiro
Pics – Austin Pinto
To Watch Video Click here
Mangalore, Nov 3: There is no calmer place on the earth than a graveyard. People in quest for peace and serenity finally find solace in a graveyard or a cemetery. They always remain prohibited zones where mortals venture less. It is perhaps one of the only place which is not trespassed or encroached. Those who fear none are always scared of death and graveyard for sure.
But there is a graveyard in Mangalore which is an exception. Not only the souls rest in peace here but even humans who are alive can spend their time meditating in the lush green ambience of the cemetery. A walk inside the cemetery takes one to a different world altogether.
In the busy, noisy Hampankatta area, Milagres Church complex is an island of repose and greenery. It is nowhere more true than the church graveyard, also called cemetery. It is an explosion of greenery with well-laid-out walkways lined with ornamental and flowering plants on both sides. In the flowering season the tree canopy covering the cemetery is a colourful sight to behold.
November 1 which was once marked a new year in Christian Europe is now marked as All Saints Day, followed by All Souls Day on November 2. But the families of the dear departed start their collective tryst with their dear ones on the evening of All Saints Day itself. They clean up the graves, give a coat of paint, decorate the gravestones with flowers, light candles and pray for the dear departed.
At Milagres, it is a pleasant site to behold. As devotional music is played, priests go round blessing the graves, with the families of those interned there gather round in somber vigil. Apart from sprucing of the graveyard it is lit with medicinal candles.
All Souls day is an occasion to remember the departed ones. The bereaved families who have lost their dear ones clean up the cemetery once a year on this day. Graveyard of Milagres Church has set an example to others by beautifying it on all the 365 days.
The graveyard of Milagres Church wears a look of that of a park. Milagres Church has shown that even the graveyards need attention and that those departed be respected.