Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has taken leave from his duties in Ranchi and is currently in Nemra, his ancestral village in the Ramgarh district. He is deeply immersed in the rituals and obligations of mourning, following the passing of his father, former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, on August 4th. The elder Soren died while undergoing treatment at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
Hemant Soren, the middle son, has been actively involved in the traditional funeral rites, including the cremation ceremony. He is diligently fulfilling the customs associated with the final rites. As part of the Dashkarma ritual on August 15th, in the presence of family and villagers, Chief Minister Soren shaved off his head and beard. The focus has now shifted to the preparations for the memorial feast, or ‘sanskar bhoj,’ which is scheduled for August 16th.
The last rites are being carried out according to traditional customs and local beliefs, with the support of family members, relatives, and villagers who have traveled to Nemra, the ancestral village of Shibu Soren. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is personally supervising the preparations in Nemra. He has directed officials to ensure smooth arrangements for transportation, clean water, food, medical aid, security, and accommodations for all visitors. The administration has also initiated a cleanliness drive to prepare the village and surrounding areas for the memorial events.
To ease the movement of attendees, over 300 e-rickshaws will be available to ferry people from the parking areas to the event venue. Three large parking spaces have been built, each with bio-toilets. Furthermore, covered shelters, rest areas, and separate pandals have been arranged along the paths for those walking, providing respite from the weather.
Three large pandals have been constructed to serve food, capable of seating thousands of people at once. The menu will include local cuisines and traditional offerings. Numerous volunteers and chefs will work to ensure cleanliness and an organized service.
A police control room has been established at Dhumkudiya to oversee security and traffic management. The security team includes 10 IPS officers, 60 DSPs, 65 inspectors, and approximately 2,500 police personnel. The district administration is maintaining a state of high alert. Teams of police, administrators, and volunteers will work round-the-clock to manage traffic, emergency services, and crowds.
A special exhibition and memory gallery are being prepared to honor the late former CM’s life, political contributions, his efforts for the tribal community, and public service. The exhibition will feature rare photographs, historic documents, and achievements from his time in office.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, among other prominent figures, are expected to attend the memorial feast. Also expected are the Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, UP’s Minister of Tribal Welfare Sanjeev Kumar Gond, and representatives from various states, including Bihar, Punjab, Bengal, Odisha, and Maharashtra. Members of the Jharkhand cabinet, numerous MLAs, and senior officials are anticipated to be present. A helipad has been built for VIP guests arriving at Nemra village.