Pola: When Bullocks and Oxen Are Adorned and Pampered

Indian culture never fails to awe people with its unique and gracious festivals. One such festival is Pola. A thanksgiving festival specially dedicated to bullocks and oxen that bring an official day off to them from all the strenuous fieldwork to enjoy pampering from their fellow farmers.

Decorated Bullocks. Image source: Tour My India.

Hindu culture holds great importance and respect for nature and never misses out on the chance to revere nature, trees, and wildlife by celebrating various festivals all around the year. Every year, a train of festivals is celebrated in Shravan (usually in August or September) and is concluded with the celebration of Pola, which comes at the end of the month of Shravan, on Pithori Amavasya (the new moon).

Pola is a festival of gratitude and is celebrated to thank and recognize hard work and sacrifice for the bullocks and oxen who work alongside the farmers in the fields throughout the year. Many people in India may not know much about this festival, but people in Maharashtra celebrate Pola with great enthusiasm and fondness. Moreover, some parts of states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh also celebrate Pola. In addition, some parts of southern India celebrate this festival too, only with different names, such as Mattu Pongal and Godhan.

In Maharashtra, Bail (Bullock) Pola is highly popular among Marathas and farmers as animals hold great significance for farmers. The day's preparations start early in the morning, with the owner bathing their bullocks and massaging them with oil and turmeric. All new and shiny bullocks are then decorated by painting their horns with various colors, mostly bright ones like red, orange, yellow, and blue. What’s more, to add a completely lively and festive look, bullocks are draped with zool, a shiny and sparkly colorful piece of clothing on their back, and ghungroo tied to their ankles.

Worshiping Bullock Pair. Image Source: ABP Maza.

Once the bullocks and oxen are fully decorated, married couples in the family worship them by putting a flower garland around their neck, applying kumkum, and waving Pooja Thali around them and thank them for their selfless concomitance and hard work. After worshiping, the couple feeds the bullocks specially made Maharashtrian delicacies like pooran poli, kadhi, sheera, bhaje, etc. Also, the owner takes the bullock pair house by house in the surrounding area so that other people could worship bullocks and celebrate Pola. They also worship little statues made up of clay or wood.

But the rituals do not end here, as the real fun begins when all the bullock pairs and their owners gather in the open space of town or village to hold various competitions and take the joyous celebrations to the next level. Like any other beauty contest, bullocks are also engaged in decoration competitions, and the most beautifully adorned pair receives prizes, mostly money. In addition, in many urban and rural parts, Pola Fair is also conducted. And many schools have a holiday during Pola as children are the most excited to celebrate any festival.

Children Celebrating Tanha Pola. Image Source: Sakal.

So, like any other festival, kids eagerly celebrate Pola with great pleasure and joy. Besides, a day after Bail Pola comes Tanha Pola, which is a more special occasion for kids as it is Pola not for adults but for kids only. To celebrate Tanha Pola, children take clay or wooden pair of bullocks adorned with tiny flower garlands and kumkum, then take them from house to house in the neighborhood and sing Tanha Pola Alaa… (Children’s Pola has arrived). Females in the household worship those little bullock pairs with kumkum and give money, candies, or sweets to children.

Over the years, with growing technology, fewer farmers use animals for agricultural work. As a result, fewer bullocks need to work day and night in the fields. Even so, farmers remember the importance of bullocks during old times and celebrate Pola, a special Thanksgiving festival for bullocks and oxen, with the same level of enthusiasm and dedication every year.