On 12th November a special festival is celebrated in Uttarakhand known as Igas or Budhi Diwali. This year, the state government has declared this day as a public holiday. This means that all government offices, schools, colleges and other public institutions will remain closed across the state.
This holiday is not only for government employees but will also bring a day’s respite for school children and college students. Let us learn about this public holiday in detail and understand why it is important.
Igas Parv: Special festival of Uttarakhand
Igas festival is a major folk festival of Uttarakhand which is celebrated 11 days after Diwali. It is also called Budhi Diwali or Purani Diwali. There is an interesting story behind this festival:
- It is believed that the news of Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya reached the hilly areas of Uttarakhand after 11 days.
- Therefore, people here celebrate Diwali in the form of Igas 11 days after Diwali.
- On this day, lamps are lit in homes and special dishes are prepared.
- People light torches and perform a special dance called Bhailo.
Igas festival is an important part of the culture and traditions of Uttarakhand. This festival keeps people connected to their roots and brings a feeling of unity in the community.
Public holiday information
This year the Uttarakhand government has declared 12th November as a public holiday on the occasion of Igas festival. Let’s look at some important information about this holiday:
| Description | Information |
| date | 12 November 2024 |
| Day | Tuesday |
| reason for leave | igas festival |
| types of holiday | public holiday |
| applicable area | entire state of Uttarakhand |
| closed institutions | Government Office, School, College, Bank etc. |
| open minded | Essential services like hospital, police station etc. |
This holiday means that:
- All government offices will remain closed
- There will be no studies in school and college
- Banks and other financial institutions will remain closed
- Most private companies will also give leave to their employees
However, essential services like hospitals, police stations, fire stations etc. will function normally.
Uttarakhand holiday calendar 2024
Uttarakhand government has already released the holiday calendar for the year 2024. This calendar includes a total of 42 holidays:
- 25 public holidays
- 17 restricted holidays
These holidays have been decided keeping in mind the local festivals and traditions. Some of the major holidays are:
- 26 January: Republic Day
- March 8: Mahashivratri
- 25 March: Holi
- 9 April: Chaitra Navratri
- 15 August: Independence Day
- 2 October: Gandhi Jayanti
- November 12: Igas Feast
- December 25: Christmas
Such holiday calendars help people to plan their holidays. It also ensures that people get time off from work on important festivals and occasions.
Importance of Igas festival
Igas festival is an integral part of the culture of Uttarakhand. This festival is important in many ways:
- Cultural Heritage: This festival reflects the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand.
- Community Togetherness: On this day people gather together to celebrate the festival, which promotes community unity.
- Preservation of Traditions: The Igas festival helps in keeping the old traditions and customs alive.
- Economic Activities: Local business and economy get a boost during the festival.
- Promotion of Tourism: The festival attracts tourists, which is beneficial for the tourism industry of the state.
- Engagement of the younger generation: Such festivals help in keeping the youth connected with their culture.
Thus, declaring Igas festival as a public holiday is not only a holiday but also a way of paying respect to the culture and traditions of the state.
impact of public holidays
The public holiday declared on November 12 will have a wide-ranging impact. Let us see which areas this holiday will affect:
- Government Office:
- All government offices will remain closed
- There will be no work related to the general public on that day.
- Important work will have to wait till the next day
- Educational Institutions:
- Schools and colleges will remain closed
- Students and teachers will get one day leave
- Exams or other activities may get postponed
- banking services:
- Bank branches will remain closed
- Online banking services will remain operational
- Money can be withdrawn from ATM
- Business Activities:
- Small businesses and shops may remain closed
- Big shopping malls can remain open
- There will be no impact on online shopping
- Transport Services:
- Government buses may run in less numbers
- Taxi and auto services will be available normally
- Train and air services will remain normal
- health services:
- Hospitals and clinics will remain open normally
- Emergency services will be available 24×7
- Tourism:
- Tourist places will remain open
- Hotels and restaurants will operate normally
- The number of tourists may increase due to the festival
In this way, while on one hand this public holiday will give people a chance to rest, on the other hand it may have a temporary impact on some services.
Disclaimer: This article has been written for general information purposes. Although the information provided herein is based on reliable sources, readers are advised to verify with relevant authorities or experts before taking any important decisions. Public holidays and related rules may change from time to time, so check the official government website or notification for latest information. The author or publisher is not responsible for any damages or consequences caused by the use of the information provided in this article.
