To keep the students abreast of our cultural heritage and rites and rituals, Various festivals are celebrated at The Achievers School with great pomp and religious fervor.
Pola was no exception. On Monday, 2nd of September, 2024, the premises of the school held a vibrant and festive ambiance with … torans made of mango leaves put up to welcome the farmers with their pairs of bulls & children sporting colorful traditional dresses ready to display their decorated wooden bulls. Teachers in traditional navaari lugda performed the pooja of the pair of bulls and offered naivedya. It was indeed an eye opening moment for some children to witness such traditional pooja. In the special assembly, the children spoke about the significance of the day. Even the wooden bulls were decorated based on themes like ‘Save the Earth’ and ‘Say no to Plastic’. The festival celebrates the deep bond between humans and our animal counterparts. Children enjoyed racing their wooden bulls.
It is noteworthy that the festival of Pola is a thanksgiving festival celebrated by farmers in Maharashtra to acknowledge the importance of bulls and oxen, who are a crucial part of agriculture and farming activities. It falls on the day of
the Pithori Amavasya (the new moon day) in the month of Shraavana. On this day the bulls are bathed and decorated with colourful ornaments. The bulls are taken out in a procession by farmers and the whole village comes together to perform the pooja and feed the bullocks with special naivedya of sweets like puran poli. On the following day, taanhaa pola is celebrated in which children decorate wooden bulls and take them in a procession in the neighbourhood.
The school, thus aids in helping children know about their roots and be proud of them. This is of utmost importance in the present times with rapid inclination towards westernization.
The program was coordinated by Mentor Mrs. Aarti Mahajan. The Principal of the School, Mrs. Pooja Mahawadiwar, and Director, Mrs. Sapna Katiyar, along with the the staff and students of the school, participated enthusiastically in the celebrations.
