Festivals are a big part of Indian culture. Every state and region of India has unique festivals that most of us aren’t aware of! So, today we’ll tell you about one such festival in Maharashtra called Tanha Pola. A big part of Vidarbha’s cultural heritage, Tanha Pola is a festival that is celebrated with gusto by people in Nagpur. Scroll on to learn more about this festival and why people celebrate it with such enthusiasm.
Tanha Pola: History & Significance Of This Festival
आज तान्हा पोळा साजरा करतांना घेतलेली काही छायाचित्रे.
Some glimpses of Tanha-Pola Today at our city. #तान्हा_पोळा #पोळा pic.twitter.com/rAaOB8qI2J— Yashodhan (@Yashodhan_2709) September 3, 2024
Celebrated the day after Pola, Tanha Pola has been a part of Vidarbha’s cultural heritage for more than two centuries. Similar to Pola, this festival honours and celebrates bulls and their contribution to agriculture and farming activities. Nagpur comes to life on this festival and thousands of kids dress up to be a part of this vibrant celebration. Parades, beautifully decorated wooden bulls, pujas, and festive excitement are observed throughout the city on this festival.
This year it was celebrated on September 3 and marked the 235th anniversary of this festival. Tanha Pola celebration was initiated in 1789 by the second king of Nagpur, Shrimant Raje Raghuji Maharaj Bhonsale (II). As per The Times of India report, the king recognised the significance of bulls in agriculture and wanted to make people about it as well.
#तान्हा_पोळा #पोळा #Pola #Nagpur #Maharashtra #PithoriAmavasya pic.twitter.com/fVNRHMT4kL
— Sujit koppalkar (@KoppalkarSujit) September 1, 2024
To do so, he introduced wooden bulls to make young cowherds realise the importance of cattle. These bulls were decked to the nines and resembled real ones. These wooden bulls were worshipped and revered by the people in the region. Since then, it has become a big part of Nagpur’s heritage.
How This Festival Became A Big Part Of Vidarbha’s Cultural Heritage
The tradition of Tanha Pola is passed through generations in the Vidarbha region. People in Nagpur, especially, take great pride in this festival and the kids in the city celebrate it with full enthusiasm. Neighbourhoods host competitions, kids decorate wooden bulls, and parades are held throughout the city as part of the celebration.
श्री निकुंज गुमगांवकर अंकित गुमगांवकर मित्र परिवार तर्फे आयोजित तान्हा पोळा २०२४ #pola #bailpola #tanhapola #nagpur #nagpurfestivals #maharashtra #parmparamaharastrachi #ankitgumgaonkar pic.twitter.com/hYoJAJAffQ
— Ankit Gumgaonkar – अंकित गुमगांवकर (@ankitgumgaonkar) September 4, 2024
There are several rituals that people follow while celebrating Tanha Pola. Little kids decorate their wooden bulls and then offer prayers to them. A symbolic gate is also erected with sweet treats like mithai, fruits, and chocolates hung on it. Families and neighbourhoods light up mango wood pyres where people offer prayers. After this, the gate is broken down and sweets, fruits, and money are distributed to the young people.
काल श्री कॉन्व्हेंट अँड हायस्कूल, श्री नगर नं. २, हनुमान मंदिर जवळ, मानेवाडा बेसा रोड, नागपूर येथे आयोजित भव्य तान्हा पोळा उत्सवानिमित्त उपस्थित राहून लहान मुलांच्या आनंदात सहभागी झालो. #तान्हा_पोळा #TanhaPola pic.twitter.com/20b1hZiWpC
— Aman Ban (@AmanBan_) September 16, 2023
Festivals bring together people and communities and Tanha Pola is a great example of that! Is there any such festival that is unique to your city? Let us know in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: Reddit/Annypatil & X/@Yashodhan_2709
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