Pola Festival 2024: History, Date, Significance to Celebration, All You Need to Know

Pola Festival 2024: Bulls and oxen play a vital role in farming, and they really need to be pampered and given rest from time to time. Thankfully, in India, a festival called Pola dedicated to bulls and oxen is celebrated in praise of these hard-working animals, who are worshipped, fed traditional food, and given new things like bells, jewellry, and shawls.

Also, Pola is a thanksgiving festival celebrated mainly by farmers of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh to acknowledge the importance of bulls and oxen, which are an important part of agriculture and farming activities. Apart from this, this festival is also celebrated among the Marathas in central and eastern Maharashtra and is also celebrated by farmers in other parts of India.

When is the Pola Festival in 2024?

Pola falls on the Pithori Amavasya day in the month of Shravan (usually in August or September). This year Pola is being celebrated on Monday i.e. 02 September 2024. Pola is also known as Mattu Pongal in the south and Godhan in north and west India.

Pola Festival 2024: History and Significance

Agriculture is a major source of income in India. Cows and bulls are extensively used for farming and hence Pola festival is celebrated to express gratitude towards them. According to Hindu scriptures, it is also believed that on this day Lord Krishna killed a demon named Polasur. He attacked Lord Krishna during his childhood and hence children are also given special respect on this day.

During this festival, farmers do not make their oxen work in the fields, and schools are closed in rural areas of Maharashtra on this day. On this day, owners give their bulls a day off and do everything possible to make them feel special from decorating them, giving them gifts, and treating them with festive food like Pooran Poli to worshipping them.

This festival reflects the relationship between farmers and cattle and also shows the respect for animals in our culture. On this day, farmers also seek godsend for good harvest and well-being of their cattle.