Telangana Villages Gear Up for Polala Amavasya

Polala Amavasya reflects the deep bond between farmers and the livestock that support them in agriculture. Farmers have traditionally worshipped the land as Bhudevi, rain as Varuna Deva and the cattle that assist them in farming as sacred beings. The festival also highlights the importance of nature, livestock and the five elements in rural life. It is celebrated with devotion while preserving the cultural traditions of villages for future generations. Preparations are underway across the district to celebrate Polala Amavasya with festive spirit on the 11th of this month, during the waning phase of the Shravana month.

On the occasion, farmers decorate their pairs of bulls and perform special rituals. They clean their homes early in the morning and decorate the entrances with mango leaf festoons. The bulls and other cattle are taken to ponds or wells, given a bath and then worshipped. The animals are decorated with turmeric and vermilion and offered traditional prayers. Some families also make clay bull figures and worship them on Amavasya. Decorated bulls are taken to Hanuman temples in villages and made to circumambulate the shrine.

Farmers offer traditional delicacies, including boorelu, along with other offerings to the cattle. They believe that worshipping the bulls will bring prosperity, healthy livestock and good agricultural yields. Bulls are considered an essential part of farming and are valued for standing by farmers through their hardships. The celebrations therefore represent not only devotion but also the close relationship between farmers, livestock and Telangana’s rural culture.