In their hearts and prayers

Christians honour the departed

KUALA LUMPUR: With flowers and candles, Christian families honoured their departed loved ones on All Souls’ Day.

They also offered prayers and cleaned up the tombstones.

Among those spotted at the Cheras Christian Cemetery yesterday was Francis Wong, 84, who was visiting the resting place of his elder brother.

“My parents died during the Second World War in the 1940s, so my brother and I were orphans.

“In order to survive, we had to fight for food, we had to beg for food and even steal food. We were then later put in a welfare home known as the Serendah Boys’ Home.

“When we were in the boys’ home, we played all sorts of games, we were involved in fights and thefts but we were also taught how to behave, how to be good citizens in the future,” he said.

Wong, who previously worked as a chargeman for the Public Works Department, said he woke up at 7am yesterday and drove himself to the cemetery to pay his respects.

“I’ve been attending All Souls’ Day since my elder brother died in 1998. He would have been about 86 or 87 if he were alive now,” he said.

The day was packed for him, he said, as he would be visiting his late wife’s resting place and travelling to Nilai to pay respects to his relatives there as well.

For Thomas Raj, All Souls’ Day is an important tradition in his family to remember loved ones who had died.

“Since I was a kid, I have followed my parents to do this. It is to remind ourselves of those who have departed,” said the 44-year-old IT general manager.

He added that every year, he and his family would light candles and incense, while offering prayers for their father and grandparents.

For some families, the tradition of honouring the dead on All Souls’ Day is an important one to keep alive and pass down.

Legal secretary Florence Savari, 39, made it a point that her two daughters attend All Souls’ Day.

“For Catholics, this day is important, we remember those who have died. This day is meant for them.

“My children should know this (tradition) as well so that they can continue the tradition,” she said.

All Souls’ Day is observed annually on Nov 2. It is known in the Roman Catholic Church as the “commemoration of all the faithful departed”.

It is also observed by a few other denominations of Christianity.

In loving memory: Wong (top) at the grave of his elder brother. (Left) Families paying their respects to the departed on All Souls’ Day in Kuala Lumpur.