This year, as families in the hills prepare once again to celebrate their own version of Diwali, Igas Diwali brings a sense of tradition, community, and cultural pride. Known as Budhi Diwali or Igas Bagwal, this festival is a heartfelt reminder that sometimes celebrations take their own time to reach us.
According to tradition, Igas Diwali happens eleven days after Diwali, on Saturday, November 1, 2025. It falls on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, a date that carries its own spiritual meaning in the Hindu calendar.
Key Aspects that Make Igas Diwali Unique
A Different Timing – Celebrated 11 days after the main Diwali, it brings a second wave of festivities to the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, keeping the festive season alive long after the rest of the country has moved on.
Distinctive Traditional Attire – Women wear vibrant ghagras and pichhoris with silver jewellery, while men don kurta-pyjamas or warm regional coats.
Cultural Identity- Igas Diwali plays a vital role in preserving Uttarakhand's cultural heritage and connecting younger generations to their roots.
Lively Folk Performances – Villages come alive with Tandi folk dances and the thrilling sword-wielding Chholiya dance, making it a usual traditional celebration.
Flavours of the Hills – Festive treats like arsa, pua, and singals are prepared from local grains and jaggery. These festive delicacies are exclusive to the Uttarakhand region.
Honouring Local Heritage – The festival is also a time to remember regional heroes and retell community legends, keeping the oral history alive for future generations.
Legends Behind Igas Diwali
The Ramayana Connection
One popular belief links Igas Diwali to the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshman after defeating Ravana. While the rest of the kingdom lit diyas during the main Diwali, news of his arrival reached the remote Himalayan villages only 11 days later. The difficult mountain terrain and lack of communication in those times caused this delay. Villagers celebrated as soon as they heard the news, and the tradition of marking this “late Diwali” continued for generations.
The Tale of Veer Madho Singh Bhandari
Another story speaks of Veer Bhad Madho Singh Bhandari, the commander in King Mahipati Shah’s army in Tehri. Nearly 400 years ago, during Diwali, he was sent to lead a battle against Tibet. Since his return was delayed, locals feared he and his soldiers had been lost in the war, so they did not celebrate Diwali. Eleven days later, he returned victorious, and the villagers honoured him and his troops with grand celebrations, a tradition that became Igas Diwali.
How It Is Celebrated
Igas Diwali is celebrated with rituals that reflect Uttarakhand's deep connection to nature, community, and folklore.
Lighting the Bhailo: The festival's centerpiece is the Bhailo. Villagers create large torches by bundling together dry wood from pine trees, along with stalks of sesame or bhangjire. As dusk falls, these are set alight. People then dance and sing in circles, rhythmically swinging the glowing torches in a spectacular display of light that is meant to drive away darkness and evil spirits.
Folk Music and Dance: The air fills with the sounds of traditional folk songs like "Bhailo Re Bhailo" and "Kakhdi Ko Railu." Villagers gather to perform lively community dances such as the Jhummelon, and in some regions, the Pandava dance is performed, reenacting tales from the Mahabharata with local flair.
Honoring Animals and Nature: In the agrarian Pahadi culture, livestock are family. On Igas, cows and oxen are given special reverence. They are bathed, their horns are oiled, and they are adorned with garlands and offered special food as a mark of gratitude for their role in sustaining the community.
Preparing Festive Delicacies: No festival is complete without special food. Families prepare regional sweets like singal (a sweet made from wheat flour and curd), arsa (a rice flour sweet), and savory puris. These treats are often shared around the Bhailo fire, strengthening community bonds.
A Visitor's Guide to Experiencing Igas Diwali
For those wishing to witness this authentic festival, here are a few tips:
Where to Go: Igas is celebrated throughout the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand. To experience it, consider visiting rural villages rather than the main cities. Homestays can offer a truly immersive experience.
What to Expect: This is not a commercial festival. It is a deeply communal and family-oriented celebration. Expect warmth and hospitality, but not large-scale organized events.
Cultural Etiquette: Always be respectful. If you wish to take photographs, especially of rituals or people, it is polite to ask for permission first. If offered food, accepting it is a gracious gesture.
Book in Advance: While it's a local festival, the main Diwali season is a popular time for tourism in Uttarakhand. Book your accommodation and travel well in advance.
What Igas Diwali Teaches Us
Igas Diwali is more than a delayed Diwali. It is a celebration of:
Heritage and identity
It keeps alive the folklore and traditions of Garhwal and Kumaon. Each dance, song, and ritual reflects stories that have been passed down through generations.Unity and local pride
The shared rituals and communal feasts bring people together. Festivals like Igas Diwali help strengthen local bonds and keep cultural roots firm.Valor and remembrance
Honoring stories of courage like that of Veer Madho Singh connects people to their history and inspires pride.Harmony with nature
Celebrations that honor livestock and nature reflect a way of life that respects the environment and sustains it.
This year, on November 1, 2025, families in Uttarakhand will gather under dancing flames and glowing Bhailo torches. They will sing old songs and prepare mouthwatering regional sweets. They will honor cows, share stories, and celebrate not only a festival of lights but also a festival of heart, history, and home.
As the hills glow bright once again, Igas Diwali reminds us that traditions may follow their own timing, but they bring people together in timeless ways. May this festival fill your heart with warmth, unity, and the radiant light of heritage.
Happy Igas Diwali 2025!
