Nagpur Gears Up For Marbat Festival, 140-Year Tradition That Lights Up Tanha Pola

Time of India

8 hours ago

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Nagpur: The city, especially the old areas, are once again in a festive mood as citizens prepare for the grand spectacle of the Marbat Festival, a tradition that has thrived for well over 140 years.
Celebrated the day after Pola, known as Tanha Pola, the festival returns this Saturday with towering effigies, age-old chants, and vibrant processions that are set to capture the city's attention.
While artisans put the final touches on the towering effigies of Pili Marbat and Kali Marbat, the bustling lanes of Sitabuldi, Itwari, and Budhwari are packed with crowds buying festival essentials. Among the most eye-catching sights are the colourful wooden bulls, neatly lined up, attracting children and families alike.
These toy bulls, painted in bright hues with intricate detailing, have been a traditional part of Pola for generations.
Even the small mud idols of bulls are visible in the market, used on Motha Pola for worshipping at homes.
"Every year, children eagerly wait for these bulls. Prices start from a few hundred rupees and go up to nearly a lakh depending on the size and craftsmanship," said Ramesh Shivare, a toy seller from Itwari, who has been in the business for over three decades.
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He added that despite changing times, the charm of wooden bulls has not faded, as families continue to buy them as keepsakes for their children.
Another vendor, Sunita Tai, who set up her stall at Budhwari, said the season is always special. "The bigger bulls are bought by collectors or families who want to keep them as decorative pieces at home, while smaller ones are always popular with children. These toys remind people of Nagpur's roots in farming traditions, and buyers feel connected to that heritage."
Interestingly, this year, even bronze bulls were also seen in the market.
The Marbat celebrations themselves are equally steeped in history. The Kali Marbat, introduced in 1881, and the Pili Marbat, which followed in 1885, form the heart of the tradition, which is crafted by the Tarhane Teli community. Towering effigies — often reaching up to 20 feet — are built and worshipped before being paraded through the city.
In recent years, newer additions such as the Laal Marbat and a growing number of Badgyas, or smaller effigies prepared by different communities, have expanded the festival's canvas.
These often carry social messages, from awareness about pollution to commentary on governance based on the latest issues of the time.
On the day of Tanha Pola, the processions wind through the historic lanes of old Nagpur, accompanied by chants of 'Ida pida gheun jaa ge Marbat', a collective plea to the deities to take away all troubles and evils. The grand finale comes when the effigies are consigned to flames at designated sites like Naik Talao and Harihar Mandir, symbolically burning away negativity and ushering in prosperity.
With prayers already underway and markets in full swing, Nagpur is set to witness another unforgettable chapter of the Marbat Festival — a celebration that blends devotion, tradition, and community pride.
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