Igas Bagwal is celebrated in Uttarakhand after 11 days of Diwali. For which the state government has declared a holiday for one day.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has shared the information about the declaration of a state holiday by tweeting on Tuesday. On the 11th day of Diwali, on the festival of Ekadashi, there is a tradition of celebrating Igas that is old Diwali in Uttarakhand since ancient times. This folk festival introduces the heritage culture of Uttarakhand.
This will be the second time that the state government has declared a holiday. Even before this, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has declared a state holiday.
Why this festival is celebrated and what are the beliefs behind it
In fact, in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, there has been a tradition of celebrating Bagwal on the eleventh day of Diwali since ancient times. Similarly, Budhi Diwali is also celebrated in the Kumaon region or sweet dishes are also prepared in this way on the day of Ekadashi.
According to tradition, local deities are worshiped at night and buffaloes are burnt and rotated. Buffalo is a ball of fire. A dance is performed with him. Drums are played. Local people also dance to the tune of folk culture folk songs around the bonfire and celebrate Bagwal with gaiety.
Its belief has been such since ancient times that when Lord Shri Ram conquered Lanka. When Mata Sita came back to her kingdom after completing 14 years of exile with Lakshmana, at that time people gave her a grand welcome by lighting a fire. Due to which we celebrate as the festival of Diwali, but it took about 11 days for the people from Ayodhya to Garhwal to get information about it and this is the reason why the local people lit a fire when Lord Shri Ram returned to his kingdom. Lord Shri Ram was welcomed. After 11 days the local people celebrated this.
There have been different types of traditions and in Garhwal also many types of beliefs can be seen.
According to ancient belief, Veer Madhav Singh Bhandari was the commander of the army of King Mahipati Shah of Tehri in Garhwal. About 400 years ago, the king sent Madhav Singh to fight with Tibet with an army. Meanwhile, there was also the festival of Lord Diwali, but when no soldier came back till the festival, everyone thought Madhav Singh, his soldiers were martyred in the war. But on the eleventh day of Diwali, Madhav Singh Bhandari with his soldiers came back from Tibet after winning the war and then celebrated Diwali.
In this way, there are many folktales and stories too, it is a special thing. Small pieces of dry wood are burnt. After offering ur pooja, tilak is done to the buffaloes, then the villagers gather at one place and move it around the fire and dance with great joy and gaiety performing feats. In traditional folk dance, Bhailo Re Bhailo folk song is sung along with Jhumelo. The awakening of the gods and goddesses is sung and the festival of Igas is celebrated on the 11th day with great gaiety. This festival is celebrated in different ways in Kumaon and Garhwal. But the state government has declared a state holiday on the day of Iglas, due to which an atmosphere of euphoria is being seen.
Also Read – International Indigenous day 2022: Everything You Need To Know
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
