🪔Igas - इगास

Updated: Nov 13, 2024 05:56 AM | About | Related Information | Read Also

Igas Date: Saturday, 1 November 2025

Igas festival is celebrated on the 11th day of Deepawali i.e. Ekadashi. This folk festival of Uttarakhand is also known as Igas Bagwal, Igas Diwali and Budhi Deepawali. Igas is celebrated with pomp across the state. A state holiday is declared by the Uttarakhand state government on the occasion of Igas festival.

The festival of Igas is celebrated by playing bhailo. By making small bundles of dry wood of sesame, bhangjire, hissar and pine, tying it with a special type of rope, Bhailo is prepared. After worshiping on the day of Bagwal, people from nearby places gather at one place and play Bhailo. Under the Bhailo game, the bhailos are shown tricks by setting fire, along with the traditional folk dance Chanchhari and Jhummelon, folk songs like Bhailo Re Bhailo, Kakhdi Ko Railu, Ujaylu Aalo Andhero Bhagalu etc. are enjoyed.

Related Name	Igas Festival, Igas Bagwal, Igas Diwali, Budhi Deepawali, Chhoti Bagwal
Begins Tithi	Kartik Shukla Ekadashi
Reason	Bhagwan Shri Ram
Celebrations	Bhajan Kirtan

इगास हिन्दी में पढ़ें

इगास पर्व दीपावली के 11वें दिन यानी एकादशी को मनाया जाता है। उत्तराखंड के इस लोक उत्सव को इगास बग्वाल, इगास दिवाली और बूढ़ी दीपावली के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। एगास पूरे राज्य में धूमधाम से मनाया जाता है।

Why is the festival of Igas celebrated?

Celebrations Related to Diwali
It is believed that when Bhagwan Ram reached Ayodhya after conquering Lanka after 14 years, people welcomed him by lighting diyas and celebrated it as the festival of Deepawali. It is said that people in the Kumaon region got to know about it after 11 days, so here it is celebrated 11 days after Diwali.

The Second Recognition of the Igas Feast
According to another belief, Veer Bhad Madho Singh Bhandari of Garhwal was the commander of the army of King Mahipati Shah of Tehri. About 400 years ago, the king sent Madho Singh to fight with Tibet with an army.

Meanwhile, there was also the festival of Bagwal (Diwali), but till this festival no soldier could return. Everyone thought that Madho Singh and his soldiers were martyred in the war, so no one celebrated Diwali (Bagwal).

But on the 11th day of Diwali, Madho Singh Bhandari returned with his soldiers from Tibet to win the Davapaghat battle. Diwali was celebrated in this joy.

How is the festival of Igas celebrated?

❀ In Uttarakhand, the day of Diwali is celebrated as Bagwal. Whereas in Kumaon, 11 days after Diwali, it is celebrated as Igas i.e. Old Deepawali.
❀ Sweet dishes are prepared in the morning on the day of the Igas festival.
❀ On the day of Bagwal, after offering prayers and performing tilak, the villagers gather at one place and play brothers. It is rotated by setting fire to Bhailo. Many villagers also do tricks with Bhailo.
❀ Traditional folk dances like Chanchhari and Jhummels are sung along with folk songs like Bhailo Re Bhailo, Kakhari Ko Railu, Ujaylu Aalo Andhero Bhaglu etc.