In preparation for the festival, bulls are washed and massaged with oils. They are decorated with shawls, bells, and flowers, their horns are coloured, and they get new reins and ropes. The decorated bulls and oxen are walked in procession to the village field accompanied by music and dancing. The first bullock to go out is an old bullock with a wooden frame (called
makhar) tied on its horns. This bullock is made to break a
toran, a rope of mango leaves stretched between two posts, and is followed by all the other cattle in the village. Homes in the village are decorated with
rangolis and
toran on top of doors.
Puja thalis with
kumkum, water, and sweets are prepared, and when the cattle is returned from the procession they are formally greeted by family members, with an earthen lamp with
ghee for
puja and aarti. On the following day, children decorate wooden bulls with beads and flowers. On this day in
Chhattisgarh,
Lodhi Rajputs bring home-made sweets and dishes like thethri, khurmi, chakli to the homes of their sisters and daughters. == References ==