In This Telangana District, People Visit Graveyards On Diwali

On Diwali, most people take part in Lakshmi Puja to seek prosperity, but certain social groups in Telangana’s Karimnagar district visit graveyards to perform unique rituals, lighting lamps in front of graves and offering meditation to celebrate the festival. This tradition has been observed by this community for over six decades.

In Karimnagar, a unique Diwali tradition has been persevered for over sixty years, where families enter graveyards to honour their ancestors by lighting lamps at their graves. This practice may seem unusual to those who fear cemeteries, but it holds a special significance for the local community.

In the Karkhanagadda Hindu graveyard in Karimnagar, Dalit families have a long-standing tradition of celebrating Diwali at the graves of their loved ones. A week before the festival, the graveyard is meticulously cleaned and the graves are adorned with fresh coats of paint.

In the days leading up to Diwali, family members visit the graves, clean and decorate them with flowers, ensuring they are in perfect condition for the festival. On Diwali itself, all family members come together at the graves to spend the evening in peace.

Residents explain that celebrating the festival at the graves provides a sense of connection with their departed loved ones. This is why people of all ages prepare their ancestors’ favourite dishes and offer them at the graves. After paying respects to their ancestral deities, families conduct special pooja at the graves, cherishing the memories of their departed family members. While this tradition may seem unusual to some, the local community finds happiness in honouring their deceased relatives during the festival.

A resident of Karkhanagadda, who had come to the burial ground with family members to participate in the ceremony, explained, “The tradition of celebrating the festival of lights at the graveyard has been a part of our local culture for decades. We have brought our late grandfather’s favourite food items to place on his grave, considering it a way to maintain an eternal connection with our departed loved ones.”

Another resident expressed, “I’ve brought desserts and sparklers, which my departed son loved during the festival of lights, to spend time in front of his grave with our family, reminiscing the enduring memories of him.”