Himachal Pradesh village skips Diwali celebrations due to local belief
Residents of Sammoo in Himachal Pradesh avoid fireworks, decorations and special meals because of a long-standing tradition.
Residents of Sammoo, a village located about 25 kilometres from the Hamirpur district headquarters in Himachal Pradesh, did not celebrate Diwali on Sunday. According to a report by India Today, the village avoids the festival due to a belief passed down through generations.
The tradition is linked to a local account of a woman who committed sati and cursed the village against celebrating the festival. Residents believe that breaking this tradition could lead to fires, untimely deaths and other misfortunes.
Elderly resident Savitri Devi said the tradition is very old and that no one has celebrated Diwali in the village for generations. Another resident, Ram Singh, stated that celebrating the festival is taboo and that attempts to break the tradition have resulted in mishaps like fires and deaths.
The absence of celebrations extends to food, with resident Sachin noting that families do not prepare special meals on Diwali. While some residents travel to neighbouring villages to watch celebrations, others, such as Raghuveer Singh Rangra, said they feel the joy of the festival but cannot celebrate it.
Villagers like Anita said they have not celebrated for years because elders insist it brings disaster. Locals also noted that rituals performed to lift the curse have not changed the practice.