The people of these two villages in Tamil Nadu have not celebrated Diwali for 62 years

Chennai, November 14, 2020, Saturday

India is known as a country of festivals as one festival after another comes during the year. Diwali is a festival celebrated in every part of the country. People are preparing for the days before the series of festivals starts from Dhanteras to Bhai Beej but it would be surprising to know that the festival of Dipo is celebrated in S Mampatti and Kolukuddipatti in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu.

Therefore, in these villages, there is no light or the sound of firecrackers. The Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary is located near these two villages. The firecrackers have not been celebrated for decades so as not to disturb the birds living in the sanctuary. The people of this village are very fond of birds. The sound of firecrackers is very harmful to the birds so there is no festival like Diwali in the village.

According to the information received, birds like Horns, Darters, Spoonbills, Asian Open Bill, Flamingo etc. come to Ahiya's Bird's Century from October to March. These birds are accustomed to live in a quiet environment. According to the village elders, at one time the people of Mampatti Kolukuddipattigam used to take money from usurers to celebrate Diwali. Instead of disturbing the birds by celebrating Diwali with debt, the villagers decided not to celebrate Diwali. On the 17th, the villagers took a vow not to celebrate Diwali in the presence of Gamdevi, which is still observed. The elders who took this vow do not exist today but his generation still abides by the vow.