Budi Diwali Celebrations with Torch Dances and Delectable Delicacies in Nirmand and Giripar

Himachal :  In Himachal Pradesh, the traditional Budi Diwali (Old Diwali) celebrations have begun in the Giripar Hatti region of Sirmaur, home to a population of nearly 300,000. The festival started on Sunday evening with villagers holding torches (beet) and dancing to the beat of traditional drums in a grand procession. The Budi Diwali festival in Giripar lasts for three, five, and in some areas, seven days. During this time, visitors are treated to local delicacies such as Mudda-Shakuli and Bedoli-Askali, along with other mountain dishes.

Notable locals including Atar Singh, Sobha Ram Chauhan, Dayal Chauhan, Fateh Pundir, Kamrou Panchayat Pradhan Mohan Thakur, Dinesh Sharma, Munshi Ram, Bharat Thakur, and others shared that on Sunday, various villages like Kamrou, Sharli, Bohal, Baladwa, Khuninal, and others participated in the traditional Haladat, where people gathered in shared courtyards between 4 and 5 PM. The evening was filled with folk dances, including Karuna Gatha Bhiyuri, Siyaran, and Harul, along with heroic songs.

The celebration continues with folk dance performances throughout the day, where the Badyatu team, with their drums, dances from house to house, offering blessings. The Budi Diwali festival begins with a torch procession at midnight on the Amavasya (new moon) night, symbolizing the driving away of evil spirits. Villagers burn large piles of wood in a symbolic act to ward off negative energies.

The origins of this festival are linked to the mythological battle between Lord Indra and the demon Vritrasura. According to the Rigveda, Indra defeated Vritrasura, who ruled over water, while Indra controlled fire. This battle, fought on the Amavasya of Margashirsha (the lunar month), is commemorated through the lighting of torches and dancing around the flames, a tradition that has been passed down for generations.

The Budi Diwali celebrations are not just confined to Giripar; other regions like Mandi, Shimla, and Kullu also observe this ancient tradition. In Nirmand, the festival was formally inaugurated on Sunday night with fire rituals performed in 12 villages, where locals gathered to sing traditional songs and dance around the flames. The event was marked by the participation of locals from various villages in the region, continuing the age-old customs with full fervor and enthusiasm.