For most of us, Deepavali is a time when the country glows in every direction.
Homes are lit up, streets sparkle, and even the night sky looks brighter.
But in one small corner of Andhra Pradesh, there’s a lakeside in Deepavali village that stayed dark long after sunset.
Yes, in a place named after the festival of lights, the village’s favourite lakeside spot had no light of its own.
The Lakeside That Slept Early Every Night
In Srikakulam district, Deepavali village’s lakeside spent years without a single streetlight.
Once evening fell, the calm waters turned pitch dark, and people slowly drifted indoors.
The lakeside, which was the village’s favourite spot for evening walks and adda, would turn pitch dark.
As the lights went out, people preferred staying indoors, avoiding the unlit paths by the lake.
It was one of those quiet problems that rarely make headlines. The kind you live with until someone decides to change it.
A Festival That Brought Real Light
This year, something beautiful happened.
Stanley Tools stepped in with an initiative called “Yeh Deepavali Yellow Waali” and quite literally brought light to Deepavali.
They installed 20 solar-powered lampposts along a 600-metre stretch near the lake, turning the once-dark pathway into a glowing landmark.
Now, every evening, children play by the water, families gather after dinner, and elders sit together chatting under the warm yellow light.
What was once silence has turned into a space filled with laughter, safety, and connection.
Light That Doesn’t Fade With The Festival
The best part of this initiative is that it isn’t temporary.
The lamps are powered by solar energy and continue to brighten the village every single night, long after the diyas and fairy lights have disappeared.
It’s a reminder that the true spirit of Deepavali lies in lighting up lives, not just homes.
When A Small Village Inspired A Bigger Message
As the village came alive, so did the message.
Across cities like Bengaluru, Pune, Cochin, and Chennai, billboards carried the same thought, that this festival is not just about decoration but about illumination.
And when creators from across the country shared the story of Deepavali village, it travelled even further.
Their words and videos helped the campaign reach people who had never even heard of this tiny village, but suddenly cared about it.
More Than Just A Campaign
Stanley Tools turned a simple celebration into something people will remember long after the festival.
The brand that usually builds tools to make work easier ended up building something that made life brighter.
Today, when the sun sets in Deepavali village, the lights turn on automatically.
The lakeside glows softly, families step out, and conversations flow late into the night.
What was once darkness is now a celebration that doesn’t end with the festival.
Because some lights fade after a few nights,
but some, like these, are built to shine every day.
#YehDeepavaliYellowWaali
