TURA, Nov 1: The biggest religious event of the Catholic church for the departed souls- observance of All Souls’ Day is taking place today on November 1st which is actually a day of celebration of All Saints Day.

The commemoration of All Souls’ Day, globally observed on 2nd November, has been preponed one day earlier to 1st November in view of the month long golden jubilee celebrations of the establishment of the Tura Catholic Diocese which begins with special church services on the evening of the observance.

While the 50 years establishment of the Catholic Church in Garo Hills is being widely celebrated by the faithful across the Garo Hills region and beyond, yet, there are also mixed feelings from others over the decision to hold the observance for the departed souls one day ahead.

Several faithful who congregated at different florists in Tura to purchase fresh flowers to decorate the graves of their departed family members told this scribe that the decision to move up the observance came as a “total surprise”.

“We wanted to participate in the cemetery service and blessing of the graves on the day marked specially for All Souls, but will now have to do so on 1st November. It feels different,” says a young lady who had brought along a friend she wanted to invite to witness this special service.

“We normally pray to the saints seeking blessings on All Saints Day, whereas a day later we pray on All Souls Day for our loved ones who are no longer with us. These are two entirely different religious events- one being a celebration and the other a sad observance,” remarked another devotee and a mother.

Both, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are church doctrines that go as far back as the 9th and 10th century.

In an attempt to clear any misgivings over the dates, the Catholic Church in Garo Hills has stated that a special church service to commemorate all the faithful departed will take place on the morning of All Souls’ Day at the Cathedral church in Tura, while the blessing of the graves and cemetery church service takes place a day earlier.

“Only the main cemetery in Tura (on the Roman Catholic Road/Bishop House) will be holding the service and blessing of the graves on November 1st afternoon in view of the golden jubilee programme. All other parishes, including Tura Rongkhon Songgital cemetery of the Catholic church will observe All Souls Day on November 2nd,” clarified Auxiliary Bishop of Tura Rt. Rev. C J Jose.

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