Takes of a different
kind @ from the land of the dead!
It was a different experience
altogether today. The trip was to St. Andrews Church at Bandra. What struck me
more than the features of the 402 year old holy place was the graveyard attached
to it.
Flowers had a significance
& importance different from what we normally know them for. All types of
collection were there; there were silly handmade nosegays, elaborate bouquets,
the large wreaths, there were garlands and there were single roses too all
around the place. Probably because of Sunday, the quantities were large. Some
of them were accompanied by candles (some were white and some were of red wax,
some burning and some burnt).
There was an eerie
silence in the air. The serenity disturbed only by the visit by the
near-and-dear ones. Some strolled to the place where their acquaintances were
buried and went back after making a silent prayers, placing flower(s), lighting
a candle (or a combination of these activities) and taking a bow. While some
others chose to stroll through the entire open space like us.
The remembrances
section had its own importance. Imagine thousands of names of those who have
long departed have nothing to claim on this Earth but for a 1 ½ ft by 3 ft.
space with their names engraved / carved out on them. Some seemed to be
neglected (read: not many remembered them) as was evident from the quality of
their etchings while some seemed to have been remembered regularly who also
took the pains of taking the pains of ensuring the names are clearly visible by
any onlooker.
There was a family
section (reserved in advance by the family), a normal section and there was one
which had infants. With passage of time, the space is getting limited with each
passing day. Interspersed among them were the graves of some of the ex-priests
of the same Church. Needless to say, because of the 4 centuries of age, we had
death days well spread throughout the last few centuries.
Felt bad trampling on
the graves with names written on them; but could not help despite the best of
our abilities because of the proximities of the same. Even the entrance area to
the Church is also cluttered with many a names.
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