A month after Diwali, hills erupt in Bagwal celebrations

MUSSOORIE: The bhailoo swings through the air making a distinct swooshing sound indicating that Bagwal festivities have begun in the hills.
Unlike firecrackers in the plains, bhailoo, a natural fire sway made with padding of barks and branches of trees tied tightly together with a green vein, swung by the hand is an essential part of Bagwal, is akin to Diwali although it is celebrated a month after the festival of lights is observed throughout the country.
Once an elaborate 12-day affair, Bagwal has now shrunk to a four-five day celebration, but it is still a special and scared tradition in many parts of the Uttarakhand hills.
A popular belief is that the festival celebrates the homecoming of the warlord Madho Singh Bhandari, who was fighting a battle in Tibet during Diwali. People of his village decided that they would celebrate the festival only when their brave son came back from war. When he finally came home victorious a month after Diwali, Bagwal was celebrated. Songs sung during the festival are dedicated to the brave Bhandari, says Naresh Nautiyal of Banglon Ki Kandi village where the festival is celebrated with much gaiety.
Preparations for the festival usually start many days in advance with women folk getting busy beating chiwda (flattened rice) in traditional urkhalu/okhal (a hole made on a flat stone for pounding of grains).
Dishes such as askya, dal pakora, samao (puris) and swala (sweet puris) are prepared and days are also named after the dishes. For instance, the day when pakoras are made is referred to as Pakoria.
Mangseer Bagwal, a fair to showcase the rich tradition of the festival and create a buzz about it was also organised in Uttarkashi, the fifth year that it was held. Mohan Dabral, one of the organisers said, “The idea is to popularize the festival and showcase the rich tradition of the hills. Most youngsters don’t even know what a bhailoo is. We are doing our bit to keep the traditions alive.”
Bagwal is also a harvest celebration of sorts in the hills. Having worked hard throughout the year, villagers embrace the celebrations and dance till the end of the night with drums beating in the background.
Sushila Devi, a villager from Thathyud, who now lives and works in Mussoorie remembers the tug of war between men and women that used to happen during the festival. “It is a wonderful time which we look forward to every year. I am sad that this year, I had to give it a miss as I could not go back to my village.”