The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Village celebrates Deepavali after 100 years!

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Thursday, Oct 30, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Village celebrates Deepavali after 100 years!

Staff Reporter

Srikakulam: It may sound unbelievable, but it’s true. Punnanapalem, an isolated village in Ranasthalam mandal, has not been celebrating Deepavali for the last 100 years! While the whole world revels in the celebration of the festival of lights, this village languishes in the dark, alien as it is from the sparkle of the earthen lamps and the sound of crackers.

For the first time on Tuesday, the villagers came out to celebrate the event, thanks to the initiative taken by Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Ambedkar University S.V. Sudhakar. According to a legend, a man died following snakebite on the day of the festival. With the joyous occasion ending on a tragic note, the villagers considered the festival as inauspicious. Since then, they have not been celebrating the event.

The last time the villagers celebrated the festival was some seven generations ago. Dr. Sudhakar interacted with the village elders and the sarpanch and made them understand that it is unreasonable to ban a festival that brings cheer and delight to one and all, particularly the children. Dr. Sudhakar even sent crackers as a gift to the village. The apprehensive villagers first resisted. They, however, relented, lighted the lamps and burst crackers. The joy of youth and elders were a sight to watch.

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