Vijay Pinjarkar,TNN
Times of India, Oct 5, 2015

NAGPUR: Pola is a bull-worshipping festival celebrated by farmers, but have you ever heard farmers coming forward to observe 'Waghacha Pola' (Tiger Pola)?

In a rare show of solidarity with tigers, over 5,000 villagers gathered to celebrate 'Tiger Pola' in little known Gothangaon near Kuhi, 60km from here, a village on the outskirts of Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary (UKWS). Gothangaon is one of the ranges of UKWS.

As a gesture to protect tigers, the villagers installed a statue of popular tigress of the sanctuary, Chandi, which has delivered cubs four time and brought the sanctuary into limelight. The spot where the statute has come up will be converted into a garden soon.

"Chandi is our icon and we want to portray her on the lines of 'Machli' of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan," says Rohit Karoo of Wildlife Conservation and Development Centre (WCDC), a NGO working for UKWS.

"Gothangaon is a project-affected village. Farmers have lost their fields and subsequently cattle and bulls to Gosikhurd dam. When there are no bulls and cattle, celebrating Pola has no significance. So we've decided to conserve tigers by celebrating 'Tiger Pola', because tigers can provide us employment," said Gothangaon sarpanch Kailash Hudme.

Hudme said 'Tiger Pola' will be an annual event in the wildlife week to depict tradition and culture with a message to save tigers. "I want to motivate youngsters to save the wildcats and tell people that tiger is our friend," he added.

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