Today November 1 at sundown marks All Souls Day, locally known as Turama, a significant occasion in the Cook Islands when families commemorate their departed loved ones.

Catholics observe All Saints Day by participating in Mass in honouring all the saints, taking part in prayers and reflections, as well as visiting the graves of loved ones to remember and pray for those who have passed away.

This tradition holds great importance –families clean and spruce up graves, adorn them with fragrant fresh flower or vibrant everlasting arrangements, candles, and lights to remember and honour their dearly departed.

Tim Nubuno’s younger brother Tebano Nubono, heartbreakingly died at the age of 13, on 19 December, 2013.

Yesterday, Tim and his cousin Beckham Tebwi took the day off work to clean and re-tile Tebano’s  grave site at the Catholic Panama Cemetery, in time for the All Souls Day mass this evening.

“My brother was healthy as, he was very sporty, he was very fit, he played rugby and was a boxer…,” says Tim, reminiscing on the life of his young brother.

For Tim, approaching Turama is a time for remembrance.

“And to remember our loved ones, so we pray for their souls if they are in purgatory, and we pray for our loved ones back in Kiribati,” he said.

In the Catholic tradition, All Saints’ Day starts at sundown on October 31 and lasts until November 1.

All Souls Day starts at sundown today and lasts until November 2. During this time, the Catholic faith conducts commemoration services for the dead.

In the Catholic community, All Souls Day is when “we believe and pray for our loved ones who have passed on and who may be still on the journey to heaven, who still need our help”.

This evening, the Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga has mass dedicated to the deceased, followed by visits to the graves of both Catholic and non-Catholic individuals across the different districts.

Rarotonga’s Catholic Diocese Turama programme is as follows: St Paul’s Parish Titikaveka at 5pm, St Mary’s Parish Arorangi at 5pm, St Joseph’s Cathedral Avarua 6.30pm Mass at the Panama Cemetery, and Sacred Heart Parish Matavera at 7pm.