Residents of Durgapur village in Bokaro’s Kasmar block do not celebrate Holi — they are scared that the festivities will bring them epidemics and misfortune.

For more than 100 years, 10,000 villagers of this Jharkhand hamlet by the Khanjo river have not celebrated Holi as they believe that the ghost of their former king will wreak havoc in the village if his diktat is not followed.

As the story goes, Durgapur about a century ago was ruled by king Durga Prasad, who loved to celebrate Holi.

One year, he lost his son on the day of the festival and subsequently, whenever villagers organised a celebration it was followed by a famine or epidemic that led to the deaths of several people.

Former mukhiya Amresh Kumar Mahto said: “Before his death, the king issued orders that his subjects should never celebrate Holi. Incidentally, the king also died on Holi while fighting a battle. For more than 100 years, we have not celebrated Holi. The villagers still follow the orders and fear their king’s ghost.”

On the day of Holi, instead of colours, music and festivities, the streets of this village wear a deserted look. Villagers say whoever celebrated Holi in Durgapur either died suddenly or suffered a long run of bad luck.

So deep rooted is the fear of the curse that even people from the neighbouring villages and other settlements do not smear colours on residents of Durgapur on Holi. A village priest said some fishermen came to Durgapur several years ago and breached the tradition and soon an epidemic broke out in the village.

Some villagers, however, said things have been changing over the years and youngsters were now allowed to move out of Durgapur and celebrate the festival in other hamlets in the vicinity. “Those who want to celebrate Holi leave the village and enjoy themselves in relatives’ or friends’ places,” said a resident.