As the sun set, spreading a golden hue over the serene Adyar riverside Quibble Island cemetery in Chennai, I was glad to honor my mom’s memory with a ritual that connects me to all those near and dear people that I have lost to death. I laid down flowers and lit candles at her grave, a tradition I’ve maintained since she passed away in 2001 at the prime of her life, at 49, after battling spinal hemangioma for nearly three years.
Each visit to the cemetery evokes memories not only of my mom but also of my dad, who left this world suddenly due to cardiac arrest many years later. And, of course, there are plenty of other loved ones, friends, and neighbors who have gone to their eternal resting place.
Whenever I see the graves of those dear to me, I undergo a profound self-realization. I experience both happy and depressing memories during these visits. What comes to mind is how quickly life can change; healthy people who were leading active lives can transition to their coffins in just days, hours, or even minutes.
At the cemetery, I am reminded that it is only a matter of time before I, too, will kick the bucket and make my way into the spirit world, which I am strangely quite eager to explore. This awareness often hits me when I visit places of the dead, prompting me to reflect on how fleeting life can be and reminding me to enjoy my time out here before being buried myself.
By being aware of the fact that we are anyway going to die sooner or later, I think we can somehow learn to live peacefully amidst both people we love and the ones who may be a pain in the behind.
For me, All Souls’ Day acts like a reminder to make time for what’s really important in our lives: like who we share our days with, what we go through day in and day out, and how we can help people who matter the most. And yes, the days we spend with loved ones are incredibly precious. It goes without saying that we must hold these moments close to our hearts as if they were diamonds.
My personal journey of remembrance resonates with various cultures worldwide. People of all religions remember their loved ones like Catholics do on All Souls Day. Mexicans celebrate Day of the Dead, which is a hybrid of indigenous and Catholic practices of honoring the departed. In India, Hindus pray to their ancestors during the Mahalaya festival every year. Other examples include Obon in Japan, Chuseok festival in South Korea and Tomb-Sweeping Day in China.
Whatever the religious faith, I hope people make good use of these events dedicated to respecting and remembering the dead. For me, All Souls Day has been the perfect occasion to honor all the cherished people in my life who are no longer with us and to wish them well on their journey to divinity.
I personally feel that the best way to honor the dead is to put to good use the time we have with those still alive. So, I suggest everyone reading this take an initiative to express their love and gratitude to the most important persons in their lives.
We have all gone through both joyful and sad moments with our loved ones and acquaintances. Let us share these stories with one another, spreading wisdom, harmony, and joy, and reminding ourselves what life is all about.
May the Lord almighty grant peace to all departed souls, and may we find comfort in their precious memories.
Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay
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I’m not sure what Area 52 has to do with any of this?