Igas Bagwal 2025 Date: When is Budhi Deepawali in Uttarakhand? Know Tithi, Puja Vidhi and Significance of Igas Diwali

Igas Bagwal 2025 Date: When is Budhi Deepawali in Uttarakhand? Know Tithi, Puja Vidhi and Significance of Igas Diwali

Igas Bagwal 2025: Igas Bagwal is also known as Budhi Deepawali or Igas Diwali. This year it will be celebrated on Saturday, November 1, 2025. This festival falls on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, the 11th day after Deepawali. It is one of Uttarakhand’s most cherished folk festivals, marked by joy, devotion and traditional celebrations. The Uttarakhand government also declares a state holiday on this day to honour the cultural significance of Igas.

What is Igas Bagwal?

Igas Bagwal or Budhi Deepawali is a traditional festival celebrated with great enthusiasm across Uttarakhand, especially in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. The word “Igas” comes from the local term for Ekadashi, while “Bagwal” means Diwali celebration. The festival symbolises gratitude, victory and community unity, connecting faith and folklore with local heritage.

Why is Igas Bagwal Celebrated?

1. Celebration Related to Lord Ram’s Return: According to popular belief, when Bhagwan Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and victory over Lanka, people illuminated lamps and celebrated Deepawali. However, the news reached the Kumaon region 11 days later. Hence, people there celebrated Igas, marking their own Diwali of joy on the eleventh day.
2. The Valor of Veer Madho Singh Bhandari: Another legend links Igas to Veer Madho Singh Bhandari, the brave commander of King Mahipati Shah of Tehri. Around 400 years ago, he led a battle in Tibet. During Diwali, his soldiers were away, and people thought they were martyred. When Madho Singh returned victorious on the 11th day after Diwali, the locals celebrated the festival with lamps and joy, calling it Budhi Deepawali (the ‘Old Diwali’).

Igas is a lively blend of faith, music, and folk culture. Homes and temples are beautifully lit, and special dishes are prepared. The celebrations are centred around “Bhailo”, a traditional ritual unique to Uttarakhand.

• Playing Bhailo: People make small bundles of dry wood from sesame, bhangjire, hissar, and pine, tied with a special rope to create Bhailo. After evening prayers, villagers gather to light these bundles, waving them in the air to create glowing circles of fire. It symbolises joy, prosperity, and the warding off of evil.
• Folk Songs and Dance: Traditional folk songs like “Bhailo Re Bhailo,” “Kakhdi Ko Railu,” and “Ujaylu Aalo Andhero Bhagalu” are sung with great enthusiasm. Locals perform Chanchhari and Jhummelo (the signature dances of Garhwal) reflecting the festive spirit of the hills.

Villagers perform bhajan-kirtan, offer prayers to Bhagwan Ram and share festive food and sweets. The day begins with special delicacies and ends with light, laughter and music across villages.

Regional Variations and Beliefs

While Garhwal celebrates it as Bagwal, the Kumaon region observes it as Igas - both marking joy, unity, and cultural pride. It is not just a festival but a reflection of Uttarakhand’s devotional heritage and folk traditions.

Key Details of Igas Bagwal 2025

Igas Bagwal is not merely a delayed Diwali. It is a symbol of faith, valour and community celebration. It preserves Uttarakhand’s age-old traditions, reconnecting people with their cultural roots. Through Bhailo, songs and togetherness, Igas reminds every devotee of the power of faith, unity and victory of good over evil.