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A resident of Sammoo village shared that each time someone tried to observe Diwali in the village, they experienced some misfortune or loss.
As Diwali 2024 arrives, the people of Sammoo village remain ensnared in a complex web of tradition, fear, and loss.
In a small village nestled in the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh, the vibrant festival of Diwali passes unnoticed, with homes remaining dark and silent. In Sammoo village, located approximately 25 kilometres from the district centre, the festival is regarded not as a time of celebration, but as just another day.
For generations, the villagers abstain from any Diwali festivities, believing their community is under a curse that prevents them from observing the holiday. Villagers maintain that attempts to celebrate Diwali have invariably resulted in tragedy, including untimely deaths. This year was no different; as the festival approached, anticipation and excitement were nowhere to be found.
Local Beliefs and Historical Tragedy
The roots of this aversion to Diwali lie in a tragic incident that occurred centuries ago. According to local lore, a woman, upon learning of her soldier husband’s death, committed sati while cursing the village. This act of despair is believed to have condemned the community to forgo Diwali celebrations forever. Since that fateful day, villagers have adhered to this tradition, deeply fearing the repercussions of defying it.
Thakur Vidhi Chand, a resident of Sammoo who has witnessed over 70 Diwalis, shared that each time someone tried to observe Diwali in the village, they experienced some misfortune or loss. This sentiment is echoed by many villagers, who prefer to remain indoors during the festival rather than risk invoking the supposed curse.
Voices from the Community
One villager, Beena, expressed her mixed emotions surrounding the festival and said that even though familis everywhere else light lamps and celebrate, but in the village, not a single house glows with light. “My heart fills with joy when I see others celebrating, but it’s a stark contrast to our reality,” she lamented.
Despite efforts to lift the curse through rituals like Havan-Yagyathe villagers report that these attempts have failed, deepening their resolve to adhere to their traditions. The community’s collective memory of the past keeps them bound to their customs, even as younger generations express a desire to break free from this cycle.
An Ongoing Legacy of Fear
Elders in the village reinforced the notion that celebrating Diwali could lead to dire consequences. They recount instances where those who dared to defy the tradition faced severe misfortunes, such as a house fire that left a family displaced. “We have proof of this curse,” one elder claimed, adding that those that celebrated Diwali in the past faced disaster, and now they lived elsewhere, haunted by their decision.
As Diwali 2024 arrives, the people of Sammoo village remain ensnared in a complex web of tradition, fear, and loss. While other parts of the country prepare for one of their most cherished festivals, in Sammoo, the lamps remain unlit.
- Location :
Hamirpur, India
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