EGAS

Uttarakhand, is a state whose culture is very diverse and colorful. The ritual of celebrating the
festival has been going on for centuries in the state. One of the festivals that cherish and bring
backs the culture of Uttarakhand is ‘Egaas Bagwal’.

When is Egaas Bagwal celebrated?

There is a tradition of celebrating Igas Bagwal in Uttarakhand just eleven days after Diwali. The
festival is mainly celebrated in the Garhwal and Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. People with
great fervor participate in the celebration of this festival.

How is Egaas Diwali celebrated?

On this festive occasion, people cook traditional dishes like puri, swala and pakoras. One of the
major attractions during this festival is the ‘Bhelo’. Bhailo means a rope which is made from
bark of trees. People set fire on one side of the rope and play with it by spinning the rope. The
sight of this fire play is very captivating. Apart from that, people light candles and lamps. They
very joyously sing and dance on local songs relating to Egaas diwali.

There is a tradition of celebrating Egas exactly 11 days after Bagwal

Diwali in Pahar. Actually, the festival of Jyoti Parv Diwali reaches its
climax on this day, hence this series of festivals was named Egas-
Bagwal. Cultural programs are organized by various organizations on
this occasion. 

According to mythological beliefs, on the return of Shri Ram from exile to

Ayodhya, people welcomed him by lighting lamps on Kartik Krishna
Amavasya. But, the information about Ram's return to the Garhwal
region was received on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, eleven days after Diwali.

That's why the villagers celebrated Diwali on Ekadashi expressing

happiness. 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 with an army to fight with Tibet.
Meanwhile, there was also the festival of Bagwal (Diwali), but no soldier could return till this
festival. Everyone thought that Madho Singh and his soldiers were martyred in the war, so no one
celebrated Diwali (Bagwal).
But exactly on the 11th day of Diwali, Madho Singh Bhandari returned with his soldiers after
winning the Dawapaghat war from Tibet. Diwali was celebrated in this happiness.
Astrologer Dr. Acharya Sushant Raj told that on Haribodhani Ekadashi
i.e. Egas festival, Sri Hari wakes up from sleep. There is a ritual of
worshiping Vishnu on this day. If seen, in Uttarakhand, the festival of
lights starts from Kartik Krishna Trayodashi itself, which continues till
Kartik Shukla Ekadashi i.e. Haribodhani Ekadashi. The deities worshiped
Lord Vishnu on this occasion. For this reason it was called Devuthani
Ekadashi. This is called Egas-Bagwal. 

Bhailo game is the center of main attraction

. Instead of fireworks on the day of Egas-Bagwal, there is a tradition of

playing Bhailo. Especially on the day of Badi Bagwal, it is the center of
main attraction. Acharya Rakesh Purohit said that the tradition of playing
Bhailo on the day of Bagwal is centuries old in the mountain. The bhailo
is made of pine wood and string or rope.

Small knots of pine wood are tied in the rope. After which people reach
the high place of the village and set fire to Bhailo. The players dance by
holding the rope, carefully swinging it over their heads. This is called
playing Bhailo. It is believed that by doing this, Goddess Lakshmi
removes everyone's suffering and gives happiness and prosperity. There
is also a tradition of singing some songs, sarcasm and joking while
playing Bhailo. 
Cows are worshiped from morning to afternoon
Jyotishacharya Acharya Santosh Khanduri told that on these two days,
cow dynasty is worshiped from morning to afternoon. Food for cattle is
prepared from Bhaat, Jhangora, Bari, Manduve etc. Which is decorated
with many types of flowers in Parat.

First the feet of the cattle are washed and then they are worshiped by
lighting lamps and incense. By applying turmeric tika on the forehead
and mustard oil on the horns, they are given food grains decorated in a
dish. This is called Gogras. Bagwal and Egas are made into dishes like
Puri, Swali, Pakodi, Bhuda etc. at home and distributed to all those
families who do not have Bagwal.
Along with the traditional folk dance Chanchdi and Jhumelas, Bhailo re Bhailo, Kakhadi Ko Railu,
Ujyalu Aalo Andhero Bhagalu, etc. folk songs are sung in the wake of Mangal and deities.
Why is Egaas Bagwal celebrated?
According to mythological belief, the news of Lord Rama return to Ayodhya from exile reached
11 days late to the residents of upper hilly regions. So, people in Uttarakhand started
celebrating Diwali on Ekadashi, eleven days after Deepawali and it came to be called as ‘Igaas
Diwali’.

It is also believed that the Veer Madho Singh Bhandari, the commander-in-chief of Mahipat
Shah, the king of Garhwal state did not return from battle on Deepawali festival. Saddened by
the news, natives of Uttarakhand did not celebrate Deepawali. He returned back after eleven
days on Ekadashi. People very grandly and happily celebrated the return of the great warrior
and this is how the tradition of celebrating ‘Igaas Diwali’ started.

However, now the culture of celebrating Igaas Diwali in Uttarakhand is declining. Many
initiatives are been taken by the Government to revive the tradition of celebrating this beautiful
festival.