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Telangana’s Polala Festival Honors Farmers’ Bond With Cattle
Polala is a festival celebrated by farmers and their families.
It shows thankfulness to cows and bullocks for helping with farming.
On this day, bullocks are not made to work.
Families bathe the animals and decorate them with clothes, balloons, bells, and mirrors.
They also give the animals special food called Naivedyam.
Villagers take the decorated cattle to temples and walk them around while drums are played.
Some villages hold contests for the best-decorated bullocks.
The next day, called Bodaga, includes a feast for agricultural workers.
Polala, also called Bail Pola, celebrates farmers’ gratitude toward cattle used in agricultural work.
Farmers give bullocks a holiday, bathe and decorate the animals, and perform religious rituals.
Cattle are adorned with colorful clothing, balloons, bells, mirrors, and decorated horns.
Villagers gather at temples for cattle processions, drum performances, prayers, and decoration contests.
Polala is scheduled for September 10 in the erstwhile Adilabad district, followed by Bodaga on Friday.
- Who
- Farmers, their families, villagers, cattle, and agricultural workers in the erstwhile Adilabad district.
- What
- They are observing Polala, or Bail Pola, a festival honoring the relationship between farmers and domestic animals.
- Where
- In villages of the erstwhile Adilabad district in Telangana and bordering Maharashtra districts.
- When
- Polala will be observed on September 10; Bodaga will follow on Friday.
- Why
- Farmers celebrate to express gratitude to cattle for their role in agricultural work and give bullocks a day of rest.
Key facts
- Festival name
- Polala, also known as Bail Pola
- Main animals
- Bullocks and cows
- Key ritual
- Baruvu Dimpudu, the practice of not using bullocks for agricultural work that day
- Decorations
- Colorful clothing, balloons, bells, mirrors, paper-covered horns, and other decorative items
- Religious activities
- Families perform Harati, offer Naivedyam, and take cattle in temple processions
- Scheduled date
- Polala will be observed on September 10
- Following celebration
- Bodaga takes place the next day and includes liquor and a meat feast for workers
Sources
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