Nagpur gears up for Tanha Pola, wooden bulls bring festive business
Ahead of Tanha Pola, Nagpur markets see brisk trade in new wooden bulls and repairs of old ones, offering seasonal income to painters and carpenters
Nagpur is buzzing with festive energy ahead of Tanha Pola. Pola is celebrated as a festival where farmers express gratitude to their bulls, and Tanha Pola, observed the very next day, is especially meant to bring joy to children.
The highlight of the festival is that children decorate wooden bulls and celebrate with them. Through this tradition, children grow up with respect for farming and livestock from a young age.
Excitement for Tanha Pola is already building in Nagpur's lanes and major squares. Attractive wooden bulls displayed at temporary roadside stalls are drawing customers. These bulls come in different sizes and are placed on tall wooden stands fitted with wheels. Some are left in plain wood colour, while others are painted in shades of dark brown and red. They are further decorated with jhool, or ornamental cloth, and carvings to make them more attractive.
It is not just new bulls being sold in the market; giving old wooden bulls a fresh look is also brisk business. Many people are bringing their old wooden bulls to craftsmen for repair. In some cases, the wheels are being replaced, while in others, broken horns are being repaired. People are getting dents fixed and their bulls repainted to make them look brand new.
The purpose of Tanha Pola is to introduce children to their culture and to the importance of the bull as the farmer's biggest companion. On this day, children dress up in traditional clothes such as dhoti-kurta and caps, and carry their decorated wooden bulls to the nearby Pola ground or to local squares. As beautiful as this sight is, it also strengthens a sense of love and gratitude towards animals in the younger generation.
The Pola festival is not just religiously and culturally significant, it is also a source of income for local residents. Small roadside stall owners, painters and carpenters are especially busy in these days. Many people earn well during this season by taking up small jobs such as painting and polishing the wooden bulls and fitting wheels. Colourful festoons and flags put up behind the stalls are adding further shine to the market.
Overall, the enthusiasm spreading across Nagpur's markets shows that even in this age of modernity, local traditions remain very much alive.
