Lokikere village of Davangere, Karnataka has not celebrated Diwali for 200 years. Some youths who had gone to the forest for the festival had gone missing. In his memory, the villagers still stay away from this festival and consider it a custom.
Davanagere: When the entire country is immersed in Diwali celebrations, Lokikere village in Davanagere taluka of Karnataka remained silent as usual this time too. This time also they did not decorate their homes and villages with lamps. There were no sounds of firecrackers anywhere. For almost two centuries, that is, for seven generations, the families here have stayed away from celebrating Diwali. For these villagers, every Diwali brings painful memories of the youth who went missing 200 years ago.
Most of the people living in this village are Madiga community of Scheduled Caste, Valmiki Nayak community of Scheduled Tribe and Kurumba community of backward class. About 70% of the families in the village have never celebrated Diwali. Nearly two centuries ago, some village youths who went to the forest to collect essential items for the festival of Diwali never returned. In anticipation of him, the families and villagers did not celebrate Diwali that year. That missing youth never came back. Therefore, after that Diwali lamps were never lit nor crackers were burst in this village.
Following the path shown by their ancestors and elders, the families of Lokikere still stand by their decision of not celebrating Diwali. They have been following it for generations. Today it has become a custom for them not to celebrate Diwali. The villagers now believe that celebrating Diwali can bring difficulties in life. However, he is happy to see others celebrating Diwali. The most important festival for the villagers of Lokikere is the one they celebrate in the memory of their ancestors. The villagers celebrate this festival in the memory of their ancestors on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya.
It is clearly visible here how much importance the people of Lokikere, who are conscious of their identity, give to their traditions and customs. Even when the whole country is immersed in celebrations with lamps and firecrackers, the villagers of Lokikere preserve their traditions and beliefs without abandoning them.