They may not agree to shun tobacco if the doctors tell them. But they have no choice, if it is deity’s writ.

In over a dozen villages in remote Lug valley in Kullu and adjoining Chuhar area of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, the local Gods have made people stay away from tobacco use since ages.

The sale and use of cigarettes, bidis and tobacco products is strictly prohibited in these villages and no one dares break this ‘sacred norm’, fearing the deity’s wrath.

The local deities are deep rooted in the socio-cultural psyche of the people in the ‘land of Gods’ HP in many pockets.

The people look to deities for every solution as they influence day to day life of the locals in decision making, whether personal or collective.

In a way, it is ‘psychologically’ and ‘culturally’ mandatory for them to obey the deity, who is also the first doctor that the people refer to in case of health ailments, even in emergency when they need to reach the hospital early.

“We are not aware of any government law or the awareness programme against tobacco. For us, it is the deity’s order and we have to follow it. We can’t ask for reasons into this,” said Kirpa Ram, 73, of Tuin village.

As per rule, when anyone violated the ban on smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco in the village earlier, he would be asked to sacrifice goat before the deity. However, with the court now banning animal sacrifice in HP three years back, the deity can ask the violators to pay heavy fine.

But the violation never occurs. “I haven’t seen anyone going against the tradition,” said Ram Lal, a kardar of local deity Mata Phoongani in Tuin. Kardar is the local deity’s administrator.

The locals in Lug valley said the people who come to the village for the first time are informed about the deity’s wish against tobacco use prior to their entry in the village. While sign boards are erected at different entry points in some of these isolated villages, the message against smoking or tobacco use is put on palanquin of deities when they go put to participate in local festivals.

“The government spends crores of Rupees to aware the people, especially youngsters, shun tobacco use for ill-effects on health. In our area, the faith has kept the youth away from the bad habit of smoking,” said Jamuna Devi from Bhalyani.

Apart from Tuin and Bhalyani, Kharka, Shalang, Bhuthi, Samalang and Kalang villages in Lug valley of Kullu and Chuhar valley of Mandi have also prohibited the use of tobacco products.

The outer influence is limited in these isolated pockets, which has kept the age-old faith alive.