This Himachal village does not celebrate Diwali; here's why
For years, the villagers have abstained from Diwali celebrations, believing that their community is cursed and cannot observe the festival.
PTC News Desk: In a small village in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur area, the bustling Diwali festival is treated like just another day. In Sammoo village, around 25 km from the district centre, the festival goes unnoticed with homes remaining dark and silent.
For years, the villagers have abstained from Diwali celebrations, believing that their community is cursed and cannot observe the festival. Villagers claim that attempts to celebrate Diwali have always led to tragedy, including untimely deaths. This year was no exception; as the festival approached, enthusiasm and excitement were nowhere to be found.
The aversion to Diwali stems from a horrific tragedy that occurred centuries ago. According to local legend, when a woman learnt of her soldier husband's death, committed sati. The woman had gone to her maternal home to celebrate Diwali. Her husband was a soldier for the throne When she reached a distance from the village, she saw locals carrying her husband's body and belongings. Her husband died while in service. She was also with a child. It is said that the woman couldn't take the shock and committed sati with her husband. Before she died, she cursed the entire village, saying that the residents would never be able to celebrate Diwali.
This act of despair is believed to have cursed the community to never celebrate Diwali again. Since that dreadful day, villages have followed this ritual, fearing the consequences of breaking it.
Thakur Vidhi Chand, a Sammoo native who has witnessed over 70 Diwalis, stated that every attempt to celebrate Diwali in the the village resulted in some disaster or loss. Many villages share this sentiment, preferring to stay indoors during the celebration rather than risk triggering the alleged curse.
Despite attempts to break the curse through ceremonies such as Havan-Yagya, the villagers report that these efforts have failed, strengthening their commitment to upholding their traditions. The community's collective memory of the past keeps them bound to its customs, even as younger generations express a wish to break free from this cycle.