While people across India prepare to celebrate Diwali with lights, sweets and fireworks, residents of Sammu village in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district follow a very different tradition. The village, located in the Bhoranj area, does not celebrate the festival. According to local belief, a woman who lived in the village cursed its residents before sacrificing her life centuries ago. She reportedly declared that no one in the village should celebrate Diwali for seven generations. Even today, villagers continue to follow this tradition.
The Story of a Soldier's Wife
According to local accounts, the incident dates back to the Satya Yuga, when kings maintained their own armies. A woman from Sammu village was married to a soldier serving in the army. On Diwali, she was travelling to her parents' home with her son when some soldiers carrying belongings arrived. They asked her about a soldier who had died in service. The woman reportedly identified the belongings as those of her husband and asked the soldiers to leave them there.
A Curse Before Her Death
According to the story shared by villagers, the woman then sacrificed her life along with her son and her husband's belongings. Before dying, she is believed to have cursed the people of Sammu village, declaring that no resident should celebrate Diwali for the next seven generations. Since then, the villagers have avoided celebrating the festival. The story has been passed down through generations and remains an important part of the village's local tradition.
Fear of Unfortunate Incidents
Villagers say that attempts to celebrate Diwali have sometimes been followed by unfortunate incidents. A resident named Urmila recalled that some villagers had tried to celebrate the festival years ago. During that period, a sudden fire broke out in their cowshed, destroying everything. She also said that people who tried to celebrate Diwali reportedly faced health problems. Such incidents have strengthened the villagers' belief in the old curse and discouraged them from changing the tradition.
Worship of the Sati Woman
The villagers have not completely forgotten the woman associated with the story. Jagdish Chand Rangra said that families in the village keep an idol or image of the woman, which they worship after Diwali. According to the local custom, if an unexpected guest arrives during the worship, the ritual is considered incomplete and has to be performed again. Residents continue to observe this practice as a mark of respect for the woman and her family.
Young Generation Continues Tradition
Even young people in Sammu village continue to follow the customs passed down by their elders. Divyansh Thakur said that the younger generation respects the tradition, although there is some disappointment about not celebrating Diwali like the rest of the country. He believes the incident is not merely superstition but a true story narrated by their ancestors. As a result, Sammu continues to remain different from other villages during one of India's biggest festivals.
