By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 1 Dec: The Mangseer Bagwal festival, which is celebrated a month after Kartik Diwali, was celebrated as a symbol of victory over Tibet in Saanji village near here, today.
History experts say that Mangseer Bagwal is the celebration of victory over Tibet by the Garhwali army. Urad dal pakodas and potato and gahath stuffed puris were prepared at home for Diwali celebrations. Villagers used to wait for Mangseer Diwali months in advance. During this time, the villagers finish their farm work. The festival was celebrated with great joy. The villagers gathered at the village’s Thaati and burnt Bhaile together, danced till late night to the beats of Dhol-Damau and presented plates full of dishes at each other’s houses. Every year a large number of tourists from India and abroad participate in this programme.
Local villagers Kunwar Singh Sajwan and Kamal Singh Rawat state that between the years 1627 and 28, during the reign of Garhwal king Mahipat Shah, Tibetan invaders used to enter the borders of Garhwal and loot. The king sent an army from Pankhanda of Chamoli and Taknaur area of Uttarkashi under the leadership of Madho Singh Bhandari and Lodhi Rikhola. The Garhwali army reached Dawa Ghat (Tibet) hoisting the victory flag. Due to the fight with Tibetan invaders, Madho Singh Bhandari could not reach home on Diwali in the month of Kartik, so he sent a message that Diwali would be celebrated when he returned victorious. Madho Singh reached his village Maletha after a month in the middle of the war. Diwali was then celebrated with great fervour. Since then, the tradition of celebrating this Bagwal in the month of Mangsir is prevalent in Garhwal. This tradition is particularly visible in Saanji village of Tehri district near Mussoorie.
