Why this Himachal village doesn't celebrate Diwali
What's the story
Sammoo village in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district has been observing a ban on Diwali celebrations for centuries, owing to a curse. The curse was cast by a woman who committed sati, or self-immolation on her husband's funeral pyre, after he died in battle. Before her death, she cursed the villagers that they would never be able to celebrate Diwali again.
Tradition
What the curse entails
The villagers of Sammoo, located about 25km from Hamirpur district headquarters, are only allowed to light diyas on Diwali. They have a tacit understanding against bursting crackers and indulging in extravagant celebrations. Locals say any deviation from this norm invites disaster. "Whenever they try to celebrate the day, either someone dies or some disaster strikes the village," Thakur Bidhii Chand, an elderly villager, told PTI.
Failed rituals
Attempts to lift the curse
Despite several attempts to lift the curse through rituals such as havan and yajna, the villagers have been unsuccessful. Vijay Kumar, another villager, said a huge yajna was performed three years ago, but failed to break the curse's grip. The fear of disaster is so strong that many villagers don't even leave their homes on Diwali.