All Souls’ Day is a holy day set aside for honouring the dead. Christians celebrate this day as a remembrance of their kin, friends and loved ones who have passed away. According to the Catholic belief, the soul of a person who dies can go to one of three places- heaven, hell and purgatory. They believe that through the prayers of the faithful on Earth on this day, the dead residing in purgatory are cleansed of their sins so they may enter into heaven. All Souls’ Day is celebrated generally on November 2 every year. In the liturgical books of the western Catholic Church (the Latin Church), it is called the ‘The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.’

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All Souls Day has its roots in the ancient ‘Pagan Festival of the Dead’, based on the pagan belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family. Candles are lit to guide the souls to their home for the meal. According to traditions, lighting of candles is meant to kindle a light for the dead souls languishing in the darkness. On All Souls’ Day, we not only remember the dead, but we apply our efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass, to their release from Purgatory. The rituals begin late in the afternoon and continue late into the night, as family members pray next to the graves of their beloved. The graves are beautifully decorated with flowers, candles and incense sticks.

According to the belief, Lord Almighty revealed to a thirteenth century German Benedictine nun, the prayer which would release one thousand souls from purgatory every time it is said. While the ‘Feast of All Saints’ is a day to remember the glories of Heaven and those residing there, the ‘Feast of All Souls’ reminds us of our obligations to live our life on the holy path and that there will be purification of the souls of those destined for Heaven.

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In Kolkata (Calcutta), the Christian community celebrates the day in the active cemeteries of the cities. The largest gathering happens in the Lower Circular Cemetery, off A.J.C. Bose Road and Bhawanipore Cemetery, near Maidan.

This day is considered an expression of a lifelong bond and a mark of gratitude to near and dear ones for giving their progeny the gift of life and a good future.

Guest post written by Arundhati Dey. She is an avid reader and a silent listener. She likes to connect with people and learn new things. She believes in destiny and waits for the right moment!