All Souls' Day

An occasion of remembrance for the departed, November 2 marks All Souls' Day for Catholics who gather for the deceased halted in purgatory. All souls, they believe, hold on to some sins when they leave the body behind. As those at the cemetery pray for the dead, their souls are free to enter heaven, cleansed. Churches read out a traditional prayer called The Office of the Dead, and relatives perform the Requiem Mass at the graves. At the Narinda Christian Cemetery in Dhaka this year, Catholics gather to light candles, reflect on memories, and pray for the ones they have lost.