Igas Bagwal 2026: Uttarakhand's Budhi Diwali, Date, Story & Bhailo
While the rest of India winds down after Diwali, the hills of Uttarakhand get ready for a Diwali of their own. Igas, also called Igas Bagwal or Budhi Diwali, is celebrated 11 days after Diwali across Garhwal, with flaming Bhailo torches swung in the night, folk songs and dances, worship of cattle and plates of pakode and swale. Here is everything about Igas 2026: the date, the stories behind it, how it is celebrated and how to experience it.
Igas at a glance: Uttarakhand's own Diwali, celebrated mainly in Garhwal · 11 days after Diwali, on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi · 2026: around 19–20 November (confirm locally) · Highlights: Bhailo fire dance, cattle worship, folk dance, traditional food
When Is Igas 2026?
Igas falls on the Ekadashi of the bright half of the month of Kartik, 11 days after Diwali. In 2026 Diwali is on 8 November, so Igas falls around 19–20 November 2026. Because Hindu festival dates follow the lunar calendar, confirm the exact date with the local panchang or the Uttarakhand government's holiday notification.
Why Is Igas Celebrated 11 Days After Diwali?
Two stories are told in the hills, and many families know both:
- The late news of Lord Ram's return. When Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya, the news is said to have reached the remote Garhwal hills 11 days later, so the hills lit their lamps then.
- Madho Singh Bhandari's victory. According to Garhwali tradition, the army of the legendary general Veer Madho Singh Bhandari returned from a campaign in the north 11 days after Diwali. The villages had waited for their soldiers, and celebrated Diwali when they came home.
How Igas Is Celebrated
Bhailo: the fire dance
The heart of Igas is Bhailo. Bundles of resin-rich pine wood are tied with rope, lit, and swung in great circles over the head in an open field. Groups of villagers take turns, singing traditional songs as the fire traces circles in the dark. It is a spectacular sight, and it carries real risk, so it is done in open ground, away from houses and dry grass.
Worship of cattle
Cattle are central to hill life, and on Igas they are bathed, decorated and worshipped, then fed a special nutritious feed as thanks for their work through the year.
Folk songs and dances
Villages gather for traditional Garhwali songs and dances such as Jhumelo and Chanchari, often late into the night around the fire.
Food
Homes prepare festive Garhwali food: crisp pakode made from urad dal, swale (a puri-like fried bread), and local sweets, shared with neighbours and relatives.
Lamps and homes
As on Diwali, houses are cleaned and lit with diyas, and families who have moved to cities often come back to their villages for the festival.
Igas Today: A Festival Coming Home
As many people from the hills moved to Dehradun, Delhi and other cities, Igas faded in some villages. In recent years it has made a strong comeback, with campaigns encouraging people to return to their villages for Igas, celebrations in cities with Bhailo and folk music, and a public holiday declared by the state government in recent years. For many families it is now a way to reconnect with their roots.
Budhi Diwali in Jaunsar-Bawar
The name "Budhi Diwali" is also used in Jaunsar-Bawar (Dehradun district) and parts of the Ravai area of Uttarkashi, but there it is a separate festival held about a month after Diwali, with its own traditions of torches, folk dances and feasts lasting several days.
How to Experience Igas
- Visit a Garhwal village in Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli or Uttarkashi districts, ideally through a homestay with a local family.
- Watch Bhailo from a safe distance and follow the hosts' lead. Never try swinging Bhailo without guidance.
- Join city celebrations in Dehradun, where cultural groups organise Igas events with folk music and Bhailo.
- Respect the occasion: it is a family and village festival first, not a tourist show.
Prefer quieter villages to big towns? Our Uttarakhand offbeat places guide is a good start.
Weather Around Igas
Mid to late November is crisp and dry across Uttarakhand. Days are pleasant in the valleys, but nights in the hill villages drop close to freezing, so carry warm layers if you plan to stay out for Bhailo. See our Uttarakhand in November guide and the Uttarakhand weather guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Igas Bagwal?
Igas, also called Igas Bagwal or Budhi Diwali, is a festival of Uttarakhand, especially Garhwal, celebrated 11 days after Diwali on the Ekadashi of the bright half of Kartik. "Bagwal" means Diwali in Garhwali.
When is Igas in 2026?
Igas falls on the Ekadashi 11 days after Diwali. With Diwali on 8 November 2026, Igas falls around 19–20 November 2026. Confirm the exact date with the local panchang or the state holiday notification.
Why is Igas celebrated 11 days after Diwali?
Two stories are commonly told: that news of Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya reached the Garhwal hills 11 days late, and that the army of the Garhwali general Madho Singh Bhandari returned victorious 11 days after Diwali, so the hills celebrated then.
What is Bhailo?
Bhailo is the central ritual of Igas: a bundle of resinous pine wood tied with rope is lit and swung in circles in an open field, while people sing and dance around it.
Is Igas a holiday in Uttarakhand?
In recent years the Uttarakhand government has declared a public holiday for Igas. Check the current year's official holiday list.
Is Budhi Diwali the same as Igas?
The name is shared, but in Jaunsar-Bawar and parts of Uttarkashi, Budhi Diwali is a separate celebration held about a month after Diwali, with its own customs.
Plan Your Trip
Travelling a little later? See Uttarakhand in December or browse weekend trips from Delhi. Or let the AI Trip Planner plan a November trip around Igas.