The thirtieth day remembrance of our father D Dorai Raj was held on Saturday 13th June in our native village Nanchankulam, Tirunelveli dist with the visit to the graves of our parents Mrs. JD Savairammal (3rd Dec 1926 to 7th Jan 2000) and Mr. D Dorairaj(6th June 1929 to 13th May 2009).
The new grave integrated both of them in to a large one similar to our grand fathers and great grand fathers. The epitaph consisted the dates of birth and death beside the photograph of our parents carved in the black granite. It is customary to offer sweet pongal to all at the graves as a mark of respect and prayers were offered for the eternal rest of the departed souls. Then the garlands were offered to the graves of our parents, grand parents ( Mrs. Maria Packiam and M Jebamalai) and great grand parents ( Balavesam alias Belevendran and his spouse).
The thirtieth day remembrance of our father D Dorai Raj was held on Saturday 13th june in our native village Nanchankulam, Tirunelveli dist at 11.30 am in the St Gnanapragasiar (Aloysius) church. Fr Amalan former Parish Priest of Sankar Nagar parish presently in Thembavani Illam, Pastoral Centre was with us to celebrate the holy Eucharist.
The following relatives and friends were present. Mr Sahadevan, Hon Flying Officer IAF retired, Mr V Manicam Asst Commercial Manager – retired Central Railway, Jabalpur; Prof S Muthiah former HOD Dept of Economics, Presidency College, Chennai; Jesudasan Samuel retired Dy Planning Engineer BHEL Trichy; Mr Moses Manohar and Sheila Moses – Pondicherry; RFH Gnanaprakasam JSO retired Inspection Wing of Directorate General of Inspection and Supply- CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai; Joseph Jawahar Sergeant- IAF retired presently at CLRI Adayar, Chennai; Vijayakumar son of Rajendran brother of Dorai raj; Majeed Electrical Dept Southern Railway Nagerkoil and host of relatives were present at the church.
Fr Amalan who had long association with Dorai raj was all in praise for the deceased. He said that he was very closely associated with Most Rev Jude Paulraj Bishop In Palayamkottai the first and earlier bishop Most Rev S Irudhayaraj, Most Rev Dr A M Chinnappa SDB Ph D Archbishop Of Madras-Mylapore and a host of priests, nuns and religious. He was very liberal in supporting the church matters. He donated large sums of money for orphanages, poor and needy. He had sponsored many priests education at Sacred Heart Seminary Poonamallee, Chennai. Therefore it is fitting that a kind hearted soul must be remembered not only on the 30th day but every day.
After the Eucharistic celebration was over, lunch was served in honour of David Durairaj at his residence. Relatives from the village and form outside partook the lunch.
On completion of lunch the traditional ritual of offering new clothes by the brothers in law to the son and daughter in law of the diseased. On that account Mr Arumugam, husband of Mary sister of Gnanaraj the only son of the diseased offered the first new clothes followed by Mr Jesudasan Samuel, BHEL Trichy, Mr V S Jawahar, Mr Vijayakumar, relatives from Grace Gnanaraj offered the new clothes. It was a ritual to end the divisions in the family by promoting the unity among the immediate relatives of the diseased.
The new grave integrated both of them in to a large one similar to our grand fathers and great grand fathers. The epitaph consisted the dates of birth and death beside the photograph of our parents carved in the black granite. It is customary to offer sweet pongal to all at the graves as a mark of respect and prayers were offered for the eternal rest of the departed souls. Then the garlands were offered to the graves of our parents, grand parents ( Mrs. Maria Packiam and M Jebamalai) and great grand parents ( Balavesam alias Belevendran and his spouse).
The thirtieth day remembrance of our father D Dorai Raj was held on Saturday 13th june in our native village Nanchankulam, Tirunelveli dist at 11.30 am in the St Gnanapragasiar (Aloysius) church. Fr Amalan former Parish Priest of Sankar Nagar parish presently in Thembavani Illam, Pastoral Centre was with us to celebrate the holy Eucharist.
The following relatives and friends were present. Mr Sahadevan, Hon Flying Officer IAF retired, Mr V Manicam Asst Commercial Manager – retired Central Railway, Jabalpur; Prof S Muthiah former HOD Dept of Economics, Presidency College, Chennai; Jesudasan Samuel retired Dy Planning Engineer BHEL Trichy; Mr Moses Manohar and Sheila Moses – Pondicherry; RFH Gnanaprakasam JSO retired Inspection Wing of Directorate General of Inspection and Supply- CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai; Joseph Jawahar Sergeant- IAF retired presently at CLRI Adayar, Chennai; Vijayakumar son of Rajendran brother of Dorai raj; Majeed Electrical Dept Southern Railway Nagerkoil and host of relatives were present at the church.
Fr Amalan who had long association with Dorai raj was all in praise for the deceased. He said that he was very closely associated with Most Rev Jude Paulraj Bishop In Palayamkottai the first and earlier bishop Most Rev S Irudhayaraj, Most Rev Dr A M Chinnappa SDB Ph D Archbishop Of Madras-Mylapore and a host of priests, nuns and religious. He was very liberal in supporting the church matters. He donated large sums of money for orphanages, poor and needy. He had sponsored many priests education at Sacred Heart Seminary Poonamallee, Chennai. Therefore it is fitting that a kind hearted soul must be remembered not only on the 30th day but every day.
After the Eucharistic celebration was over, lunch was served in honour of David Durairaj at his residence. Relatives from the village and form outside partook the lunch.
On completion of lunch the traditional ritual of offering new clothes by the brothers in law to the son and daughter in law of the diseased. On that account Mr Arumugam, husband of Mary sister of Gnanaraj the only son of the diseased offered the first new clothes followed by Mr Jesudasan Samuel, BHEL Trichy, Mr V S Jawahar, Mr Vijayakumar, relatives from Grace Gnanaraj offered the new clothes. It was a ritual to end the divisions in the family by promoting the unity among the immediate relatives of the diseased.
