Ramgarh, October 2026 : Thousands of people from different districts of Jharkhand converged on Nemra, the ancestral village of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, on Sunday to pay their last respects to Rupi Soren, his mother and wife of late Jharkhand tribal leader Shibu Soren, popularly known as Dishom Guru. The large gathering attended the traditional sanskar bhoj, or post-funeral ceremonial feast, organised in her memory.
The village, located in the Gola block of Ramgarh district, witnessed a steady stream of visitors from the early hours of the morning. People arrived from different parts of the state to offer floral tributes to the departed soul and extend their condolences to the bereaved family. The movement of visitors continued for several kilometres, with large numbers walking in queues towards the venue.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren remained among the visitors throughout the event, personally meeting people and enquiring about their well-being. He urged everyone to participate in the ceremonial meal and asked them not to leave without having food.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev was among the prominent visitors who arrived in Nemra by helicopter. He offered floral tributes to Rupi Soren’s portrait, prayed for peace for the departed soul and met members of the bereaved family.
Thousands Arrive From Across Jharkhand
The ceremonial feast drew people from rural and urban areas across Jharkhand. Apart from ordinary citizens, political leaders, public representatives, social workers and administrative officials attended the gathering.
The scale of the event required extensive arrangements for the reception of visitors, their movement and the serving of food. Special pandals were erected to accommodate people attending the ceremony, while parking facilities were arranged at locations several kilometres away from the main venue.
Visitors could be seen walking towards Nemra in large groups, reflecting the considerable turnout. The gathering brought together people from different communities and social backgrounds, many of whom came to express their condolences and pay their respects to the family.
The event was organised in keeping with traditional customs followed after the death of a family member. Such ceremonies hold significance in many communities, providing an opportunity for relatives, friends and members of society to come together, offer condolences and share a meal in memory of the deceased.
Hemant Soren Personally Welcomes Visitors
Chief Minister Hemant Soren took an active role in welcoming visitors and overseeing arrangements during the ceremony. Rather than remaining confined to a designated area, he moved among the gathering, meeting people individually and acknowledging their presence.
He repeatedly encouraged visitors to have a full meal before leaving the venue. Special assistance was also arranged for elderly people and those who had difficulty walking, helping them reach the dining area.
The Chief Minister kept an eye on the arrangements for guests and the distribution of food throughout the event. Despite the presence of a large number of visitors, he made efforts to interact with as many people as possible.
The gathering included both prominent personalities and ordinary villagers, with the Chief Minister extending a personal welcome to those who had travelled from distant areas.
The arrangements were designed to ensure that visitors could pay their respects and participate in the ceremonial feast in an orderly manner. Food service, seating and crowd movement were coordinated to manage the large turnout.
Baba Ramdev Pays Tribute, Recalls Association With Shibu Soren
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev arrived in Nemra by helicopter to attend the ceremony. After reaching the venue, he offered floral tributes to Rupi Soren’s portrait and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
He met Chief Minister Hemant Soren and other members of the family, including Kalpana Murmu Soren, Sita Soren and Anjali Marandi. During the interactions, he expressed sympathy over the loss and spoke with the family members.
Ramdev also recalled his longstanding, friendly association with Shibu Soren, who was one of Jharkhand’s prominent political and social leaders. Shibu Soren played a significant role in the movement for the creation of Jharkhand and in campaigns for the rights and welfare of tribal communities.
His political journey was closely associated with the aspirations of tribal people and the wider struggle for recognition of their social, economic and cultural rights. Rupi Soren was an important member of the family throughout this journey.
During his visit, Ramdev held an extended conversation with Hemant Soren and conveyed a message of strength and patience to the family during the period of mourning.
His presence was among the notable moments of the ceremony, which brought together people from political, social and other fields to honour Rupi Soren’s memory.
Traditional Rituals Performed Before the Feast
The Sunday ceremony followed the traditional dashakarma rituals performed by the family a day earlier, on Saturday, October 17.
Hemant Soren had participated in the religious observances according to customary practices. He also underwent the traditional head-shaving ritual, or mundan, along with his two sons, while other family members joined the ceremonies.
During the rituals, the Chief Minister became emotional while remembering his parents and the challenges they had faced throughout their lives. He recalled their struggles and the difficult circumstances they had overcome while raising their family and shaping its future.
The sanskar bhoj was organised as the next stage of these customary observances. It provided an opportunity for members of the extended family, local residents, well-wishers and people from across the state to come together and offer their condolences.
The ceremonies also reflected the importance attached to family traditions and community participation in times of bereavement.
Political Leaders and Public Representatives Attend
Several prominent personalities and public representatives attended the gathering. Rajya Sabha member Baidyanath Ram was among those present, along with representatives of political and social organisations from different districts of Jharkhand.
Visitors offered flowers before Rupi Soren’s portrait and met the Chief Minister and other family members to express their sympathies.
A substantial number of villagers and members of the public also attended the event. People from different communities and economic backgrounds participated in the feast, making it a large community gathering in the ancestral village.
The turnout underlined the importance of Nemra as the family’s ancestral home and its connection with the political and social life of Jharkhand.
Although estimates of a very large turnout had been discussed before the event, a final official count of those who attended was not available.
Extensive Arrangements for Food, Parking and Security
Given the anticipated turnout, the district administration and organisers made elaborate arrangements for the event. Four large pandals were set up to serve food to visitors, while separate parking facilities were created to manage vehicles arriving from different parts of the state.
Security arrangements were strengthened throughout Nemra and the surrounding areas. According to reports, around 100 security posts were established, with a large number of police personnel deployed under the supervision of senior officers.
The village and nearby areas were divided into separate security zones to facilitate monitoring and crowd management. Arrangements were also made to regulate vehicle movement, maintain orderly queues and ensure that visitors could reach the venue without disrupting the proceedings.
Helipads were prepared for the arrival of prominent guests by helicopter, and additional security measures were put in place around those locations.
The arrangements were aimed at managing the large gathering while ensuring the safety of visitors, dignitaries and local residents.
Nemra Becomes a Centre of Community Participation
The ceremonial feast brought together people from different parts of Jharkhand in an atmosphere of mourning, remembrance and community participation. The gathering included ordinary villagers, social workers, political representatives and other visitors who came to honour Rupi Soren and support the bereaved family.
Hemant Soren’s interactions with visitors remained a prominent feature of the event. His efforts to meet people personally and encourage them to participate in the meal reflected the customary hospitality associated with such ceremonies.
For the family, the occasion followed several days of religious observances and remembrance after Rupi Soren’s death. The Chief Minister had remained in Nemra to participate in the rituals and spend time with family members during the period of mourning.
The presence of Baba Ramdev and representatives from different fields added to the gathering, while the participation of thousands of ordinary citizens reflected the community’s desire to convey condolences.
The sanskar bhoj in Nemra thus served as an occasion to honour Rupi Soren’s memory, uphold family traditions and bring together people from across Jharkhand in support of the grieving family.
