Post Ockhi, no Xmas for Kumari fishermen

Cyclone ‘Ockhi’ which had struck Kanniyakumari district on November 29 had devastated the entire district leaving many of the fishermen dead and many are still missing. According to various fishermen organisations more than 100 fishermen are dead and 150 are still missing.

Considering cyclone ‘Ockhi’ as a national tragedy fishermen in Kanniyakumari district have decided not to celebrate the festival and the churches here too present only a dismal look. “There will be no special mass for Christmas but only prayers to mourn the dead,” said the fisher-folk.

At St Jude’s Church, in Chinnathurai coastal village, photos of the missing fishermen have been placed in a row and a special prayer meeting was conducted on Sunday. Kottar Bishop, Nazaren Soosai, presided over the prayer meeting and expressed deep condolences for the missing and deceased fishermen.

On Christmas day on Monday, a special prayer meeting would be conducted for the missing and dead fishermen and their families affected by cyclone ‘Ockhi’. Fishermen organisations said, “We will collect money (that has been set aside by families to celebrate Christmas) from everyone and distribute it equally to families affected by Cyclone Ockhi.”

As close to 8 lakh Christians live in the district, the decision not to observe Christmas has left the commercial establishments in the region in lurch. It has affected those selling textiles, decorative items and cakes. “This is our boom time and people go in for all these during Christmas. But, Cyclone Ockhi has not only wreaked disaster in the district but also hit our business. Our sales have fallen by 40 per cent,” said the traders. “Sales of decorative items have dropped by 80 per cent and cakes by more than 50 per cent.”

Huge Christmas ‘cribs’ measuring the size of humans which are the characteristics of Kanniyakumari coastal villages are conspicuous by their absence. So are mike sets and loud speakers which would be blaring loud music in front of churches.