Christians observe ‘All Souls Day’, offer prayers at cemetery

Jhansi: Scores of people belonging to the Christian community gathered at the historic European Cemetery at Jhansi Cantonment on Tuesday to pay tributes to their departed souls by lighting candles and incense sticks and the priests were seen sprinkling holy water on the graves while offering prayers.
Besides the graves of Britishers and the Jews, the 179 years old cemetery has 68 graves of soldiers slain in WW-I and WW-II. The cemetery was built with Gothic style tombstones in the British era.
People from different parts of the country as well as abroad come to the cemetery to pay tributes to the departed souls. Maureen Gosse (76), who has come all the way from London to visit her father OE Clement’s grave, told TOI, “My heart is always in Jhansi and whenever I come here I spend a lot of time at this place as it gives me peace”.
The cemeteryhas a rich historical background. It had been in a dilapidated condition for years before its maintenance was taken over voluntarily by an aged woman MR Cantum lovingly known as Aunt Peggy who also rests here. She with her relentless efforts revived the place with the financial help given by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. People from all over the world visit here round the year. After Aunt Peggy died at the age of 96 in 2016, the work of supervision has been taken over by Claudette Hats, who is also the treasurer of the maintenance society. Hars single-handedly looks after the maintenance on a daily basis.
Talking to TOI, Claudette said, “I am trying to carry on the legacy of Aunt Peggy. After all, so many noble souls rest here and over and above it has a rich historic value”.