Budhi Diwali 2025: Igas festival was celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm amidst traditional and cultural dignity at the Chief Minister’s residence on Saturday. On this occasion, in a program organized in the presence of Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated the people of the state and said that Igas is a symbol of our cultural identity, public faith and collective spirit.
In the program, famous folk artists and cultural groups of Uttarakhand gave mesmerizing presentations of traditional dance songs like Jhumelo, Thadiya, Harul, Chanchari and Jagar, due to which the entire premises was filled with the echo of folk tunes. Chief Minister Dhami also reached among the artists and enjoyed the presentations and encouraged them. He said that our folk culture and traditions are our greatest heritage, it is the duty of all of us to preserve them and pass them on to the next generation.
Invited guests, public representatives, officials, migrant Uttarakhandis and representatives of social organizations participated in the program. The Chief Minister personally greeted everyone and added to the charm of the festival by playing ‘Bhelon’ as per folk traditions. From children to the elderly, immense enthusiasm was seen among everyone.
While honoring all the artists and participants, the Chief Minister said that the state government is continuously making efforts for the upliftment of folk artists and promoting culture-based employment. While congratulating the people of the state on the occasion of Igas, Budhi Diwali and Dev Deepawali, he said that the costumes, dishes and traditions of Uttarakhand are our priceless heritage.
Chief Minister Dhami said that Igas is not just a festival but also a symbol of gratitude and cultural pride towards nature. He said that when the house and courtyard rejoice with the beats of folk songs and the decoration of Mandans, it seems as if the land of gods itself is smiling. He appealed to the migrant Uttarakhandis to connect with their villages and keep their culture alive. Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve that “the third decade will be of Uttarakhand”, the Chief Minister said that this decade will be of overall development of the state, employment, tourism and youth empowerment. In the end, he said, ‘On this Igas, not only light the lamps in your homes, but also light the lamp of pride for the culture in your minds.’
