At graveyards, people remember the departed

Bhopal: The crowds begin to thin out at the Eidgah as the sun rises higher on Eid, but for many, the morning is not over yet. Families holding small bags of flowers and folded prayer mats walk towards graveyards across the city.At the entrance, vendors sit with baskets of rose petals and incense sticks, calling out softly. The air carries a mix of perfume and damp earth. Inside, greetings give way to quieter moments. Prayers are murmured, leaves rustle underfoot, and names are spoken in low voices. 34-year-old Arif Khan told TOI, "First we offer namaz, and then we come here," he says, standing beside a grave. His father died during Ramzan last year. "People say Eid is a happy day. It is. But this part is sad, and it doesn't go away." A few steps away, kids run between the graves in bright new clothes, their voices breaking the stillness for a moment before fading again.Caretakers say Eid morning is one of the busiest times of the year. "People start coming right after namaz," says Salim, who has worked at the graveyard for over a decade. "Some stay for a few minutes, some for an hour. Many just sit quietly." He points to a corner where a few men sit on the ground, heads bowed, lost in thought. Near the boundary wall, an elderly man struggles to bend down. A younger man steps forward to help him place flowers on a grave. He nods in thanks and returns to his prayer.In neighbourhoods across the city, people are visiting each other's homes, sharing sevai, and children are comparing their Eidi. But inside the graveyard, time feels slower. People arrive in groups, but many stand alone for long stretches, as if holding on to something that does not pass easily. Arif stays a little longer before leaving. "We used to come together after namaz," he says, looking at the grave once more. "Now I come here to visit my father."By late morning, the number of visitors begins to drop. The rose petals scattered across graves start to dry.But as a caretaker cleans the path, he's careful not to disturb what has just been placed.