Bail Pola 2025: Date, Story, Significance, Rituals, and Celebrations

Bail Pola 2025: India is an agricultural country, where soil and cattle are considered not just resources but members of the family. The most beautiful symbol of this feeling is the Pola festival, also known as Bail Pola. This festival is celebrated with great pomp and reverence especially by the farmers of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

This is a day to express gratitude to the silent partner, i.e. the bull, who works shoulder to shoulder with the farmer in the fields throughout the year. On this day, the bulls are given complete rest, they are adorned and worshipped. This festival is a unique celebration of the deep and sacred relationship between man and animal.

When is Bail Pola celebrated?

Like always, this year also the festival of Bail Pola 2025 will be celebrated on the new moon day of Bhadrapada (Bhadon) month. According to the English calendar, this year this festival is falling on 23 August 2025, Saturday.

Why is Bail Pola celebrated?

The festival of Bail Pola is a symbol of gratitude and equality, acknowledging the important contribution of bulls in ploughing, transportation and maintaining rural livelihoods. At the same time, the festival is rooted in both cultural reverence and spiritual ideals—bulls can also be associated with religion, Lord Shiva's vehicle (Nandi) and cosmic power. The festival has its own eco-cultural significance in strengthening community bonds and promoting respect for animal welfare.

Bail Pola Festival

A day before the Bail Pola festival, the entire body of the bulls is massaged with turmeric, ubtan and mustard oil. On the day of the Bail Pola festival, the cattle are freed from the work of weeding and ploughing the fields. On this day, farmers consider cattle as gods. They are bathed early in the morning, adorned, garlands of bells, clothes and rings are put around their necks. Kumkum is applied on the forehead and their aarti is performed.

On this day, bull decoration competitions are organized in rural areas. According to beliefs, women come to their maternal home on this festival. In their presence, clay bull idols are worshipped in the houses. On this day, traditional dishes like puran poli, khirapat, millet bhakri, pithla, sheengdana laddu, khichdi, kheer and modak are prepared in every house and fed to each other and each other is congratulated.

Why was the name Pola? (Mythological story - Bull Pola Story)

There is an interesting mythological story behind the name of this festival, 'Pola', which is related to the childhood leelas of Lord Shri Krishna.

When Lord Vishnu incarnated as Krishna in the Dwapar era, his maternal uncle Kansa sent many demons to kill him. Once Kansa sent an elusive demon named Polasur to Gokul. Polasur aimed to kill Balgopal Krishna.

But Bal Krishna recognized that demon with his divine leela and playfully killed him. The day Lord Krishna killed Polasur was the new moon day of the Bhado month. From that day onwards, this date came to be called 'Pola'. This day is also celebrated as a symbol of the victory of good over evil and the protection of children and animals.

1: When is the Pola festival celebrated?

Pola festival is celebrated every year on the new moon day of the Bhado month, which is also called Pithori Amavasya. In 2025, it is on 29 August, a Friday.

2: Why is Bail Pola celebrated?

This festival is celebrated by farmers to express gratitude and respect to the bulls who help in agricultural work.

3: What is the difference between Motha Pola and Tanha Pola?

Motha Pola involves the worship of real bulls and is mainly celebrated by farmers. Tanha Pola (Chota Pola) is celebrated the next day, where children participate in the festival with toy bulls.

4: What are the special dishes made on the Pola festival?

Puran Poli is mainly made on this day. Apart from this, Gujhiya, Karanji and Mixed Vegetable made by mixing five vegetables are also made.

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