Since many youngsters, who form the centre of festivities, migrate to cities to look for jobs, the festivities have lulled in the last few years.
Dehradun:
As people across the world light up their houses for Christmas later this month, locals of Kempty in Jaunpur district of Uttarakhand are getting ready to celebrate their own festival of lights - a local version of Diwali.
The festival referred to as 'Bugwaal' by the villagers in the hill state will be celebrated over the next five days. Around 120 families living across 700 villages in the Jaunsar and Jaunpur region near the state capital Dehradun make participate in the annual festival.
Festivities during Bugwaal see women in the village dressed in their best attire come together to meet and greet others in the community and to watch the younger people dance and sing besides lighting the 'Bhayloo' - a traditional firework.
Pyaro Devi, a resident of Kyaari village, says, "Our Diwali begins one month after the Diwali in the plains. This is the time friends and sisters return home to celebrate and catch up on all that we have missed in the past one year. It is a festival of home coming for us."
But not everyone echoes a similar sentiment. Since many youngsters, who form the centre of festivities, migrate to cities to look for jobs, the festivities have lulled in the last few years.
Voicing such concerns, Tikaram Baderi of Khairi village says, "Most of the youth is off to cities and towns in search of jobs. People at home aren't enthused enough to come out and celebrate."
Reminiscing his old days, Mr Baderi adds, "During our youth there used to be lot of lights and pandaals... But now our tradition has lost its past glory."
The festival referred to as 'Bugwaal' by the villagers in the hill state will be celebrated over the next five days. Around 120 families living across 700 villages in the Jaunsar and Jaunpur region near the state capital Dehradun make participate in the annual festival.
Festivities during Bugwaal see women in the village dressed in their best attire come together to meet and greet others in the community and to watch the younger people dance and sing besides lighting the 'Bhayloo' - a traditional firework.
Pyaro Devi, a resident of Kyaari village, says, "Our Diwali begins one month after the Diwali in the plains. This is the time friends and sisters return home to celebrate and catch up on all that we have missed in the past one year. It is a festival of home coming for us."
Voicing such concerns, Tikaram Baderi of Khairi village says, "Most of the youth is off to cities and towns in search of jobs. People at home aren't enthused enough to come out and celebrate."
Reminiscing his old days, Mr Baderi adds, "During our youth there used to be lot of lights and pandaals... But now our tradition has lost its past glory."
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