Candle-light Vigil

Big Daman Cemetery – dusk, November 1st

I have participated in this ritual for decades but last year, I accidentally stumbled upon a custom unknown to most of the people of my hometown, Daman!

As I cruised down a lane called Badrapor that night, I noticed through the swirling fog that most houses had brightly burning candles on their front porches. Here was an uncanny similarity to what I had read in my French textbook in school, about the way All Souls’ Day was commemorated in the countryside of France. But there was no French connection in this erstwhile Portuguese colony of Damão. Could there possibly be a chance this custom had somehow found its way to tiny Badrapor, which was the landing ground for the Portuguese over 400 years back? How come the rest of the population of Daman so steeped in custom and tradition was not even aware of this?

Badrapor, Big Daman – Dusk, November 1st

Curiosity taking the upper hand, I parked and walked up to the door of an elderly lady who explained that the candles were meant for the departed souls who would be visiting their homes on the eve of All Souls’ Day between dusk and midnight.
As I settled behind the wheel of my car on that serene November night, I could suddenly see the spirit behind such customs and traditions, the flesh and blood of the surreal. I could not help but look up at the star-studded sky for a flitting moment and then beyond into eternity as my lips whispered those three little words that my soul was saying – R.I.P.

Copyright © 2005 Noël Gama
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