All Souls’ Day in Odisha: Remembering the Kandhamal Martyrs

On November 2, All Souls’ Day, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, gathered to remember not only their departed loved ones but also the Kandhamal martyrs, those who lost their lives during the anti-Christian violence of 2007–2008.

“All Souls’ Day is not only a remembrance of our loved ones, but also of those who died for their faith,” said Bipra Charan Nayak, former president of the Kandhamal Survivors’ Association. “The martyrs of Kandhamal are our models and our inspiration. They show us how to live a life of courage and faith in Christ despite persecution, threats, and suffering.”

Across the archdiocese, parishes held special Masses and prayer services to honor the memory of the victims and to express solidarity with survivors, displaced families, and marginalized Christian communities who continue to bear the wounds of those dark days. The remembrance, many said, has become a source of healing and consolation for the faithful.

At the cemetery of St. Vincent’s Pro-Cathedral Parish in Bhubaneswar, clergy, religious, and lay faithful gathered for a solemn Eucharist and candle-lighting ceremony. Fr. Asis Digal, the parish’s associate priest, offered prayers for the eternal rest of the martyrs.

“May our prayers help all the martyrs of Kandhamal receive their heavenly reward and find peace,” he said.

Participants placed flowers and lit candles at the grave of Fr. Bernard Digal, former treasurer of the Archdiocese and one of the 105 known martyrs of Kandhamal, as a sign of reverence and love.

In Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, one of the areas most affected by the violence, the local community also held a heartfelt celebration of the Eucharist. For many families, the day was deeply personal.

“I light this candle to honor my father,” said Adarsha Nayak, whose father, Rajesh Digal, was killed in the 2008 violence when Adarsha was only five months old. “Through this light, I find hope and strength. My father lives in me.”

Reflecting on the meaning of the day, Fr. Asis Digal reminded the faithful that All Souls’ Day is not just about mourning, but also about faith in the Resurrection. “Death is not the end, it is a threshold,” he said. “The martyrs who were brutally killed are a testament to hope and to an identity rooted in Christ. This day invites us to remember them with love, to pray with hope, and to live with courage and compassion.”

The Kandhamal violence remains one of the worst episodes of anti-Christian persecution in India’s recent history. Nearly 105 people were killed, 300 churches destroyed, and 6,000 homes burned, leaving more than 56,000 people displaced.

Seventeen years later, their memory continues to inspire faith and resilience among the Christians of Odisha and beyond.