Public holiday: There is a shower of holidays in the festive season. First there were continuous holidays on Diwali and then Bhaiya Dooj festival. Tomorrow i.e. on Thursday, there will be a government holiday on Chhath festival.
Igas, the famous folk festival of Uttarakhand, is also known as Budhi Diwali. This time, the holiday for Igas festival has been declared on November 12 in the government calendar. The Uttarakhand government has already released the holiday calendar for the year 2024. This calendar includes 27 to 31 holidays. This year 25 public and 17 registered holidays have been declared in Uttarakhand. There is an atmosphere of enthusiasm among the people about the festival.
Igas festival is celebrated 11 days after Diwali
In the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, there is a tradition of celebrating Bagwal or Igas exactly 11 days after Diwali. It is believed that the news of Lord Shri Ram’s return to Ayodhya reached the mountains 11 days later. Therefore, people celebrate Igas 11 days after Diwali. There is a tradition of playing Bhailo in Igas. According to mythological beliefs, when Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya from exile, people welcomed him by lighting diyas on Kartik Krishna Amavasya. The news of Shri Ram’s return was received on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, 11 days after Diwali.
Old Diwali has special importance
Igas or old Diwali festival has special importance in Uttarakhand. Igas festival is celebrated as old Diwali in the state. On this day, just like Diwali, fireworks are done and lamps are lit in the houses. Many dishes are prepared in the houses. Public holiday on Igas festival has been declared only in the last few years. Earlier, there was no holiday in the state on Igas. Now due to government holiday, people celebrate Igas festival with great enthusiasm.
Related Articles:-
New Pension Rules: Daughters’ names to stay in family records for pension after retirement
Railways has started the facility of QR code ticketing for cashless facility at many major stations.
Govt employees under NPS must submit THIS form for pension, Know deadline and details
