Over 20,000 Visit Sewri Christian Cemetery on All Souls’ Day in Mumbai

More than 20,000 people visited Sewri Christian Cemetery in Mumbai, western India, on All Souls’ Day, November 2, to pray for their departed loved ones, bringing together Christians from different denominations at one of the city’s largest Christian burial grounds.

The cemetery, located in Sewri in central Mumbai, has approximately 12,000 graves and falls under the jurisdiction of Fatima Parish. Five Masses were celebrated during the day as Catholics, Protestants, Presbyterians and members of other Christian communities gathered to offer prayers, light candles and place flowers on family graves.

For many visitors, the annual observance was an opportunity to renew family bonds and remember those who had shaped their lives.

“I love coming here. I spend a lot of time reading the inscriptions, learning about the people buried here and discovering how beautifully they lived their lives. It gives me great peace of mind,” said Sandra Wilson.

For some, this year's visit brought the pain of a recent loss. Noella Fernandes recalled visiting the family graves with her father the previous year. This time, the family returned without him.

“Last year, we came here with our father to visit our family graves. This time, we are without him, and we have come to pay our respects to him and our other family members who are buried here,” she said.

The tradition also continues among families who have migrated overseas. According to a cemetery caretaker, some families living abroad arrange for him to light candles and decorate their family graves with flowers every year, ensuring that their loved ones are remembered despite the distance.

Rose Miranda said the visits bring back cherished memories of those she has lost.

“Whenever I come here, the memories of my loved ones come alive, and I feel that they are around me. How I miss them,” she said.

Beyond its religious significance, Sewri Christian Cemetery preserves an important part of Mumbai's history. Spread across approximately 35–40 acres, the burial ground dates back to the 1860s, during the British colonial period, when dedicated burial space was established for the city's growing Christian population. Historical accounts cite 1867 as its establishment year, although some records mention 1864. The land was acquired during the tenure of Sir Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of Bombay, now Mumbai.

The cemetery also contains the Italian Military Shrine, or Sacrario Militare Italiano, commemorating Italian soldiers who died in British India during the Second World War. Thousands of Italian prisoners of war captured by British forces in North and East Africa were brought to India and held in various camps. Several died in captivity between 1941 and 1946. The memorial is maintained by the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai.

As families gathered among the graves, their prayers, flowers and candles reflected the continuing bonds between the living and the dead. For Mumbai's Christian communities, the annual observance remains an expression of remembrance and the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal life.