Sammoo, Oct 18: A centuries-old curse continues to cast its shadow over Sammoo village in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, where residents once again will not celebrate Diwali this year. The villagers refrain from bursting crackers or holding any festivities, believing that defying the tradition invites calamity.
Located about 25 km from the district headquarters, Sammoo marks Diwali with quiet reverence — only diyas are lit, and even that with restraint. “The practice began after a woman performed sati centuries ago and cursed the village, forbidding celebrations of Diwali,” said Veena Devi, deputy to the village head.
According to local accounts, the woman, who was pregnant at the time, immolated herself after her husband — a soldier in the local king’s army — was brought home dead. Before she died, she is said to have cursed the village, declaring that no one in Sammoo would ever celebrate Diwali again.
“Whenever people tried to celebrate, someone died or some misfortune struck,” said Thakur Bidhii Chand, an elderly villager. Attempts to lift the curse through ‘havans’ and rituals have repeatedly failed. “We even held a grand yajna three years ago, but the curse remains,” added another resident, Vijay Kumar.
So strong is the fear that many villagers prefer to stay indoors on Diwali night. What should be a festival of lights remains a day of silence and remembrance in Sammoo — a living relic of faith, fear, and folklore.
