Pola 2027

Puja Vidhi

Who Celebrates This Festival?

• Farmers: Farming families honour their bulls on this day to thank them for their hard work in the fields and to seek a good harvest.
• Families of Farming Communities: Everyone in the household takes part in the worship and celebration, seeking the health and strength of their cattle and the prosperity of the home (Krishi Samriddhi).

When Should This Be Performed?

• Morning Bathing of the Bulls: The bulls are given a rest from work and bathed in the early morning, before the day's decoration begins.
• Puja Muhurat: The bulls are decorated and worshipped in the morning and through the first half of the day. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Evening Procession: The decorated bulls are taken in a procession through the village in the late afternoon and evening (practice differs from village to village).

About the Festival

Pola is a much-loved farmers' festival of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh in which bulls are bathed, decorated, and worshipped. It takes place on the Amavasya (new moon day) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravana.

The Katha (Story of Krishna and Polasur)

Once upon a time, in Gokul, the child Krishna was growing up among the cowherds, to the great joy of Nanda and Yashoda. Kansa, his wicked uncle, was afraid of the prophecy of his death and kept sending demons to destroy the child.

One of them was the demon Polasur, who came to Gokul in a terrifying form to attack Krishna. The villagers were frightened, but the young Krishna was fearless. He faced the demon and defeated him with his divine strength, and the people of Gokul were saved.

The villagers celebrated their deliverance with great joy. They rested their bulls, bathed them, and worshipped them as their companions. They said: "The bulls plough our fields and carry our burdens through the whole year. Today we thank them with all our heart." Since that day, the day of Krishna's victory over Polasur has been remembered as Pola, and farmers have worshipped their bulls on it to thank them for their service.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the morning puja:

• Decoration for the Bulls: Garlands, a decorated cloth (Jhool), colourful ropes, bells, and brass or silver ornaments
• Tilak & Sacred Powder: Haldi, Kumkum, and Akshat (unbroken rice grains)
• Lamps & Lights: A brass Aarti plate with a Diya, Ghee, and incense sticks (Dhoop)
• Sacred Water Container: A vessel of water for bathing and cleansing the bulls
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): Puran Poli, jaggery, Jowar or wheat dishes, and fodder (Chara) for the bulls
• Devotional Accessories: Fresh flowers, Bel or Tulsi leaves, betel leaf, and colour for painting the horns (Shingaar)

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Morning Preparation and Sankalp

1. Wake up early during Brahma Muhurta, bathe, and wear clean, auspicious clothes.
2. Take a small amount of water in your right palm and take a Sankalp (solemn vow): "O Divine Mother Earth and Lord Krishna, today I worship my bulls with gratitude. Bless my fields with a good harvest and keep my cattle healthy and strong."
3. Give the bulls a full day of rest from the plough and the cart.

Step 2: Bathing and Decorating the Bulls (Morning)

1. Take the bulls to a river, pond, or well and bathe them with care. Rub them gently with oil and Haldi.
2. Paint the horns and decorate the body of the bulls with bright colours.
3. Tie garlands, bells, and a decorated Jhool on the bulls, and place a garland of flowers on their necks.

Step 3: Performing the Rituals

1. Lighting the Lamp: Light a Ghee Diya and incense in front of the bulls.
2. Applying Tilak: Apply Haldi, Kumkum, and Akshat on the forehead of each bull.
3. Offering Flowers & Leaves: Offer fresh flowers and Bel or Tulsi leaves at their feet.
4. Offering Naivedya: Feed the bulls Puran Poli, jaggery, and special fodder with love.

Step 4: Aarti of the Bulls

1. Perform the Bail Pola Aarti by waving the lit lamp before each bull.
2. Bow before the bulls with folded hands, thanking them for their labour.
3. Pray for the health, strength, and long life of your cattle.

Step 5: Procession

1. Lead the decorated bulls out in a procession through the village, to the sound of drums and music.
2. Join the neighbours and other farmers in celebration, as many villages hold competitions for the best decorated bulls.
3. Return home with the bulls and let them rest.

Step 6: Seeking Blessings and Sharing Prasad

1. Touch the feet of the elders in your family to seek their blessings (Charan Sparsh).
2. Distribute the festive food among your family members and neighbours.
3. Partake in the festive meal with your family, in gratitude for the harvest to come.