In Sammoo village, nestled 25 km from Hamirpur’s district headquarters in Himachal Pradesh, Diwali passes with no lights, no noise, and no festivities. Not like the remainder of the nation, which celebrates the competition of lights with zeal, the individuals of Sammoo shroud their properties in darkness and silence. For generations, the villagers have prevented Diwali out of respect and worry for a curse forged by a distraught lady who dedicated sati on this very competition way back.
Legend has it {that a} distraught lady, who dedicated Sati on Diwali after studying of her husband’s demise, cursed the villagers. Since then, Diwali has been a day like another in Sammoo, with homes remaining darkish and devoid of lights and crackers.
The villagers imagine that any celebration would invite misfortune, catastrophe, and deaths. Talking with PTI, Pooja Devi, Bhoranj panchayat pradhan mentioned, “Even when the villagers settle outdoors, the curse of the lady will not depart them.” “Some years again, a household who had moved away was making ready some native dishes for Diwali. Their home caught fireplace out of nowhere,” she shares.
To this present day, villagers solely gentle a diya on the sati website to honor the lady’s reminiscence however keep away from all different celebratory customs.
“We’re warned that something festive a single cracker or a particular dish will deliver catastrophe,” Veena, one other resident, mentioned to PTI. “For lots of of years, individuals have kept away from celebrating Diwali. On the day of Diwali, if a household even by mistake bursts crackers and makes dishes at house, then catastrophe is certain to occur,” she added.
Veena and different villagers say that elders’ warnings have stored the Diwali custom firmly grounded in worry. A village elder, who has witnessed over 70 Diwali with out celebrations, recounts cases the place makes an attempt to watch the competition resulted in misfortune. His tales of previous makes an attempt to have fun and the ensuing misfortunes—are shared broadly, reinforcing a neighborhood perception that disregarding the curse invitations calamity.
Efforts to interrupt the curse have been made through the years, with villagers performing havan-yagya in hopes of reversing their destiny. However every try has been unsuccessful, solely furthering the villagers’ resolve to stick to their traditions. “The idea retains us collectively, even when it retains us from celebrating,” says Veena, reflecting on the neighborhood’s collective reminiscence that binds them to this tradition.
(With inputs fron PTI)
