A Prayer, some tears

Special prayers, floral tributes and candlelight marches were among the events organised in memory of the dead in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In Nagapattinam district, which reported most of the over 8,000 deaths in Tamil Nadu, hundreds of people paid tearful homage to their loved ones who were washed away by the killer waves.

Fisherfolk in Colachel area in Kanyakumari district, another area hit hard by the tsunami, congregated on beaches to pray for those swallowed by the waves that crashed into the fishing hamlet the day after Christmas in 2004.

Special pujas were held by women from the Gangaputra fishing community at Visakhapatnam and other coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh to ward off tsunami-like disasters. They thronged the seashore, offered prayers to Gangamma Talli Goddess Ganga and broke coconuts as part of the ritual.

The kin of victims in different islands of the Andaman and Nicobar chain too offered special prayers as the administration said every attempt will be made to speedily complete permanent shelters at 70 locations for those left homeless by the disaster.

Chief Minister Achuthanandan said one lakh durable houses will be built in four years across coastal areas of Kerala under the new aid package.

He sought central assistance to implement a Rs 1,441-crore scheme drawn up by the state government for nine coastal districts vulnerable to disasters caused by the sea. The scheme is meant for resettling people vulnerable to erosion by the sea, creating basic infrastructure and rehabilitating fisherfolk in areas affected by the tsunami.

The foundation stone for a three-storey Tsunami Smriti Mandapam was laid by Kerala8217;s Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran. The structure, designed by architect Jyothi Sankar, will display the names of those who died in the tragedy.

In Tamil Nadu, politicians and officials placed wreaths on memorials constructed in the collectorate premises and in villages in Nagapattinam district. In most coastal villages, fishermen did not venture into the sea and hoisted black flags on beaches. Commemorative prayers were held in churches.

In the coastal district of Cuddalore, a pall of gloom descended as people observed the second anniversary of the tsunami. Condolence meetings, floral tributes and processions were organised in 51 coastal villages in Cuddalore, which lost 648 people to the waves.

An 11-member music troupe from Puducherry performed in an orphanage housing 58 children who lost their parents to the tsunami in a programme organised by the Lions Club.

The Tamil Nadu Fishermen8217;s Federation took out a silent procession to the seashore at Cuddalore that was joined by MLAs, NGO representatives, students and fishermen. College and school students lit candles at Chennai8217;s Marina Beach and in their institutions in memory of the victims.