Polala Amavasya 2016

Polala Amavasya (పోలాల అమావాస్య) is the new moon that ends the month of Shravana. On it mothers keep the Polala Amavasya vratam for the long life and health of their children.

A plant of kanda (elephant-foot yam) is set up as the goddess Polamma (Poleramma) and worshipped with turmeric, kumkum, flowers and nine kinds of sweets and fruits. A yellow thread (toram) is tied for each child, and the story of the vratam is read: of the mother whose children were restored to her by the goddess's grace.

The same new moon is Pithori Amavasya elsewhere in India, and in Telangana and Maharashtra the farmers' Pola, when bullocks are bathed and decorated.