Farmers participate in Krishi Pournami fete

Medak: The Deccan Development Society (DDS) celebrated 'Erokka Punnami' in Gottigaripalli village with pomp and fare. 'Erokka Punnami' (Eruvaka or Krishi Pournami), the first festival of the agriculture season is among the fading cultures in rural India.

With invasion of modern agriculture and commercial crops (which provides no fodder) small farmers are compelled to sell away their cattle which in last few years have led to death of a very significant and intrinsic relationship between farmers agriculture and livestock.

Realising this, DDS has started encouraging farmers in Deccan to recall and celebrate festivals that have been part of our agriculture civilisation. In solidarity, Disha Collective, a Hyderabad based consumer group has organised a tour for the urban dwellers who could visit, appreciate and take part in the festivals along with farmers.

Erokka heralds the string of farmers festivals. It's the day of bullocks where they are fed with festival goodies, painted and worshipped reverentially. It shows an inseparable relation the livestock has in smallholder farming systems. All the farmers in village come together and 21 bullocks pull a single cart through a procession around the village. Women feed the livestock with special food (Bakshinam).

It was a great cultural experience and could see through these farmers how our ancestors always treated animals with respect and love. These Bio-cultural celebrations are also a means to secure livelihoods of local folk artists and the artisans.