t's wonderful to hear about the joy and excitement surrounding the Igas festival in Uttarakhand! It's a special occasion filled with unique traditions, and the buffalo play sounds like a particularly interesting aspect.
Igas is celebrated with great pomp in the hill districts since many years, but the way migrants are reaching the villages to celebrate the festival since the last few years, this has raised the hope of migrants returning to the villages for the festival. It is said that in the 17th century, Veer Bhad Madho Singh Bhandari had gone to Tibet for the war, but due to his not returning till Diwali, the festival was not celebrated in the hills.
After that, he returned after winning the war on the 11th day, so that year Igas was celebrated like Diwali on the 11th day to celebrate his victory. Since then, Igas is celebrated on the 11th day of Deepotsav in the hill districts. There is a custom of playing Bhailo in Igas. The festival is considered incomplete without playing Bhailo. In many areas of Tehri district, Igas is also called Bhaila Bagwal.
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Rishikesh Writings