Durban mother Linda Govender is marking Diwali, a Hindu festival of light, without her daughter Terricia, who has been missing since floods struck a pilgrimage group at the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26. Terricia was part of the Isha Foundation's S3 group on the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and was at the Gyirong immigration office when the avalanche occurred. Govender said she shed tears of grief that her daughter was not with her to celebrate on Sunday.
Govender said Diwali was one of Terricia's favourite Hindu festivals, signifying family, togetherness, traditions, and light overcoming darkness. However, this year's celebration brought renewed grief for the mother. "Diwali is a festival of light, but this year there is an emptiness in our home that no amount of light can fill," Govender said. She expressed her longing for her daughter, missing her voice, laughter, opinions, and involvement in everything.
The floods on August 26 resulted in several South Africans going missing, including Ladysmith couple Surendranath Maharaj, 74, and Anita Devi Maharaj, 67, East London woman Bavila Ramjee, 43, and another South African couple, Vivaganathan Pillay, 66, and Janet Pillay, 56. Govender described the grief of having someone missing as a particular kind of pain, with memories, photographs, and messages but also uncertainty and unanswered questions.
Govender shared fond memories of celebrating Diwali with Terricia, including distributing parcels to their neighbours, dressing up in traditional wear, and lighting clay lamps at night. The mother and daughter also enjoyed preparing sweetmeats, such as burfee, one of Terricia's favourites. Govender said her daughter loved being involved in the preparations and festivities.
To keep the search for her daughter and other missing pilgrims alive, Govender launched a campaign, Global Voices for the Missing (GVFM), in October. The campaign recently held an online prayer gathering for Terricia and the missing pilgrims, bringing families and supporters together across different countries to pray and share strength.
On the GVFM's Global Day for the Missing, Govender called on people worldwide to share photographs, names, and stories of their missing loved ones. The goal is to remind governments that families have not given up and still need answers about the missing pilgrims. Govender emphasized the importance of keeping the search alive and not forgetting those who are still missing.
As Govender and other families continue to seek answers, they are holding onto memories and hoping for a resolution. The GVFM campaign aims to keep the missing pilgrims in the public eye and push for further action to be taken. Govender's story highlights the emotional toll of having a loved one missing and the efforts of families to keep their loved ones' memories alive.
Key points
- Linda Govender's daughter Terricia has been missing since Nepal floods on August 26.
- The GVFM campaign aims to keep the search for missing pilgrims alive.
- Govender is calling on people worldwide to share information about missing loved ones on the Global Day for the Missing.
