Pola (festival)

Oxen are decorated with such ornaments on the pola.

Pola is a bull-worshipping festival celebrated by farmers mainly in the Indian state of Maharashtra. On the day of Pola, the farmers decorate and worship their bulls. Pola falls on the day of the Pithori Amavasya (the new moon day) in the month of Shravana (usually in August).[1]

Celebrations

On the day of Pola, the bulls are first given a bath, and then decorated with ornaments and shawls. Their horns are painted, and their necks are adorned with garlands of flowers. Then, they are worshipped by their owners.

The processions of decorated bulls, accompanied by the music and dancing, are carried out in the evenings. The first bullock to go out is an old bullock with a wooden frame (called makhar) tied on its horns. This bullock is made to break a rope of mango leaves stretched between two posts, and is followed by all the other cattle in the village. The order of the cattle is often indicative of the social standing of their owners in the village.[2] In some villages, fairs are organized, where competitions take place.

Pola is the main festival of the farmers of the Maharashtra, especially the Kunbis.[2] Puran Poli, karanji, and curry with five vegetables are the main dishes associated with the festival.

References

  1. ↑ Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Kolhapur District (Volume 1). Directorate of Govt. Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1976. p. 280.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 R. V. Russell. The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-559-12880-6.