New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and national spokesperson Anil Baluni orgainsed Lokparv Igas Bagwal, a traditional festival of Uttarakhand, at his residence on Thursday. The festive night was attended by top ministers of Modi government including Home Minister Amit Shah, Commerce minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan.
The LokParv celebration at Anil Baluni’s residence also saw presence of distinguished guests like spiritual guru Swami Chidanand Saraswati and those from different backgrounds including cricketer Mohammad Shami, poet &lyricist Prasoon Joshi and singer Jubil Nautiyal.
हमारी संस्कृति-हमारी पहचान,
इगास, बग्वाल, बूढ़ी दिवाली !!देवभूमि उत्तराखंड के लोकपर्व इगास के पावन अवसर पर मेरे आवास पर आयोजित इगास उत्सव समारोह में माननीय गृह मंत्री श्री @AmitShah जी, @BJP4India संगठन महामंत्री श्री @blsanthosh जी, आध्यात्मिक गुरु स्वामी चिदानंद सरस्वती जी,… pic.twitter.com/AT2kdyqSCo
— Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) November 24, 2023
Notably, Uttarakhand’s Lokparv Egas Bagwal is celebrated, both in Garhwal & Kumaon divisions, on the same day when the northern part of country observes Ekadashi.
प्रसिद्ध कवि, लेखक एवं गीतकार पद्मश्री @prasoonjoshi_, युवा दिलों की धड़कन एवं गायक @JubinNautiyal और भारतीय क्रिकेट खिलाड़ी @MdShami11 का हमारे लोकपर्व इगास के उत्सव समारोह में शामिल होने के लिए बहुत-बहुत आभार। (3/3) pic.twitter.com/SjGwxi3q3B
— Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) November 24, 2023
Anil Baluni today took to his X (formerly called Twitter) handle and shared some pictures of the gathering from last night.
The gala night saw some breathtaking poet recitation by Prasoon Joshi while singer Jubil Nautiyal mesmerized the audience with his melodious singing.
हमारे लोकपर्व इगास के अवसर पर मेरे आवास पर आयोजित उत्सव समारोह में महान गीतकार एवं कवि पद्मश्री @prasoonjoshi_ जी के अनुपम काव्य पाठ के लिए उनका हृदय से आभार! pic.twitter.com/Nqm7G8yINo
— Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) November 24, 2023
उत्तराखंड के प्रति आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के अपार स्नेह और प्रेम को समर्पित गीत को देवभूमि के लोकपर्व इगास के उत्सव समारोह में गाने के लिए @JubinNautiyal जी का बहुत-बहुत साधुवाद! pic.twitter.com/eZqnOX6us5
— Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) November 24, 2023
How Igas Bagwal festival is celebrated
Igas Bagwal is a centuries old festival of Uttarakhand and is celebrated 11 days after Diwali, every year. The festival is known by name of Igas Bagwal in Garhwal region while those in Kumaon region know it by name of Boodhi Diwali.
The day begins with preparation of sweets & special dishes in every household. Later, during the evening, people pay obeisance to Lord and burn firecrackers to celebrate the day. On the occasion, drumming competition is organized at many places while youngsters engage in folk dance.
State holiday on Igas Bagwal festival
Lokparv Igas Bagwal is an age-old festival of the hilly state but it has largely remained restricted to inhabitants of Uttarakhand. Today, the festival has found greater recognition and is being celebrated by migrant population, living in other states too.
The festival got a mega boost last year, as Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced public holiday on the occasion.
Today, youngsters are also taking keen interest in this traditional festival and feeling proud to take forward their ancestors’ legacy.
For the unversed, Diwali (festival of lights) marks the celebration of return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya, after 14 years of his ‘vanvas’. It is said & believed that the news of Lord Ram’s homecoming reached 11 days late to the hilly state. Since then, the festival has been celebrated as Igas Bagwal in the state, 11 days after Diwali.
