Centuries-Old 'Curse' Prevents This Himachal Village From Celebrating Diwali

No Diwali celebrations take place in Sammoo village, located in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district, a tradition they have observed for generations, PTI reported on Thursday.

The village refrains from marking Diwali out of fear of a curse linked to a grieving woman who committed Sati during this festival many years ago.

Photo Credit: PTI

During Diwali, no lights are lit in homes, and no sound of fireworks is heard across the village.

According to PTI, village elders have warned the younger generation that any form of celebration could bring misfortune, disaster, and even death to the community.

Legend has it that many years ago, a woman who had gone to her parents' home to celebrate Diwali received the news of her husband's death, a soldier in the king's court.

The woman, who was expecting a child, couldn't bear the shock and immolated herself on her husband's funeral pyre. It's believed she cursed the villagers, preventing them from ever celebrating Diwali.

Villagers say that since that day, Diwali has never been celebrated in Sammoo.

'Curse of the woman won't leave'

Bhoranj panchayat leader, Pooja Devi, told PTI that since her marriage and arrival in this village, she has never seen Diwali celebrated.

"Even if villagers settle outside, the curse of the woman follows them. Some years back, a family who had moved far away was preparing festive dishes for Diwali when their house caught fire. In the village, people only worship Sati and light diyas in her honour," Devi told PTI.

An elder of the village, who has lived through over 70 Diwalis without celebration, said that whenever someone tries to observe the festival, some misfortune or loss occurs.

"For hundreds of years, people have refrained from celebrating Diwali. On Diwali day, if a family accidentally bursts crackers or prepares festive dishes, disaster is bound to strike," another villager, Veena, told the agency.

She added that the village's collective memory of past events has kept them loyal to these customs, although younger generations increasingly wish to challenge this belief, Veena noted.

(With PTI inputs)