Pola (festival)
| Pola | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Date(s) | September |
| Frequency | Yearly |
| Location(s) | Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh,Madhya Pradesh |
| Country | India |
| Participants | Bulls, farmers and their families. |
| Area | Rural Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh |
| Activity | Washing of bulls, colour their horns, change old ropes tie new one, tie new bells, decorate them |
| Members | Family of farmers |
Pola is a thanksgiving festival celebrated by farmers in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, to acknowledge the importance of bulls and oxen, who are a crucial part of agriculture and farming activities. It falls on the day of the Pithori Amavasya (the new moon day) in the month of Shraavana (usually in August). During Pola, farmers don't work their bulls in the farmland and the day is a school holiday in the rural parts of Maharashtra.
The festival is found among Marathas in central and eastern Maharashtra. A similar festival is observed by Farmers in other parts of India, and is called Mattu Pongal in south and Godhan in north and west India.
In Telangana, a similar festival is celebrated on full moon day and is called Eruvaka Purnima