Vijayawada: A host of union and state ministers led by Human Resources Development minister Nara Lokesh will participate in the traditional Eruvaka Pournami celebrations of the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) at its Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) in Lam near Guntur on Monday.
The celebrations are to mark the formal commencement of the Kharif agricultural season in Andhra Pradesh. The event will start at 9 a.m. with ANGRAU vice chancellor Dr. P.V. Satyanarayana presiding over the function.
Union ministers attending the celebrations include Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, apart from state ministers Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Kandula Durgesh, and Nadendla Manohar. In addition, there will be several legislators, MLCs, chairpersons of various corporations, and local public representatives joining the festivities.
Eruvaka Pournami is observed on the full moon day of Jyeshtha month at the onset of the monsoon. It is a significant agricultural festival symbolising the close relationship between farmers and nature. The celebrations include rituals welcoming the Kharif season and seeking a bountiful harvest along with prosperity of cultivators.
A major attraction of the event will be the ceremonial worship of the traditional plough. The plough will be pulled by decorated bullocks to till the land, signifying an auspicious beginning of the agricultural operations.
Special guests at the programme include principal secretary (Agriculture) B. Rajasekhar, Agriculture director Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon, and Guntur district collector C.M. Saikanth Varma.
Addressing a press conference in this regard on Sunday, ANGRAU VC Satyanarayana said combining traditional wisdom, modern technologies, and scientific resource management would help make agriculture beneficial for farmers.
A “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” procession will be organised after the celebrations. Farmers, scientists, agriculture officials, representatives of farmer organisations, and students are expected to participate in the festivities in large numbers.
