Diwali Celebrated Amid Graves In Karimnagar
Some also placed liquor, toddy, beedis, cigarettes and gutka packets at the graves of their loved ones, remembering their personal preferences and habits when they were alive.
Karimnagar:While most people avoid graveyards, particularly after dark, a community in Karimnagar town has been celebrating Diwali in a cemetery for decades, keeping alive a unique tradition at the Karkhana Gadda burial ground.
As part of the practice, people not only burst crackers but also pay tributes to their deceased loved ones by offering dishes they enjoyed during their lifetime.
Ahead of Diwali on Sunday, the tombs were painted and decorated with flowers and lamps. In the evening, families arrived at the cemetery carrying a variety of food items. While some offered vegetarian dishes, others brought non-vegetarian delicacies.
Some also placed liquor, toddy, beedis, cigarettes and gutka packets at the graves of their loved ones, remembering their personal preferences and habits when they were alive.
In view of the celebrations, the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation made elaborate arrangements at the cemetery. The premises were cleaned, and facilities such as lighting and drinking water were provided. Flex banners featuring local politicians were also put up along the road leading from the main road to the graveyard.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, M. Mahesh, a private employee, said families offered food and celebrated Diwali at the cemetery in memory of their loved ones.
Asked about the origins of the practice, he said he did not know the exact reason but that the community had continued the tradition passed down by its elders.