Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu) Dec 26 (Reporter) People from various walks of life paid homage to the victims of the catastrophic Tsunami that swept away more than 8,000 lives and had caused immeasurable destruction and sorrow in Tamil Nadu on Thursday. Silent rallies, special prayers, propitiating of sea with milk and lighting of candles marked the 20th anniversary of the disaster that wreaked havoc in coastal districts of Chennai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Ramanathapuram districts in the State. As per the official count, 10,136 people lost their lives in India with majority of the casualties reported from Tamil Nadu. Nagapattinam district alone in Tamil Nadu suffered the maximum loss of 6,065 lives and many more went missing on the fateful day in 2004. People and and fisherfolk in scores of coastal hamlets from Nagore to Pazhayar, including Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam, Seruthur, Tranquebar, Nagore, Velankanni and Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district that were nearly wiped out by the Tsunami, thronged the seashore in their respective villages and paid tearful homage by offering milk and flowers at the sea in remembrance of the victims. Special prayers were organized in temples, churches and mosques in the district. The relatives of victims lit candles and offered floral tribute at the cemeteries of their loved ones. Leaders and functionaries of various political parties along with the public have paid homage to the victims by pouring milk into the sea at Arcottuthurai, Vedaranyam, Kodiakkarai, Vellapallam and Pushpavanam coastal hamlets here. In an event organized at Nagapattinam Collectorate complex, floral tributes were paid at the Tsunami memorial park. According to reports reaching here, homage was paid to Tsunami victims in Kanyakumari district, where 1,017 people lost lives in the natural disaster. Hundreds of fishermen in Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari abstained from fishing as a mark of respect. Reports reaching here said families of victims, fishermen and public held silent processions, candle light vigil and sprinkled flowers on sea in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts...////...