As usual, people congregated in churches for midnight mass. They prayed and went back home as the memory of the tragedy that claimed 798 lives in a string of 33 coastal hamlets a year back is still fresh in their minds.
Christmas used to be the biggest occasion for fisherfolk here. That was the time they bought new clothes, indulged in some revelry and brought gifts and delicacies to children.
But this time, most of them did not appear to be in a mood for merry-making, as most families in the area have lost their near and dear ones in the tragedy.
There would be special memorial services in churches tomorrow (Dec 26, 2005) to mark the anniversary of the tragedy and prayers for the future of those left behind in the tsunami-hit coast, Fr Dionysias of Kottar Diocese told sources.
"What we are trying is to re-build the lives of the people who have lost everything in the tragedy. We don't want them to live on charity for ever. We want them to stand on their
own," he said.
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