Vijayawada: The state government has decided to organise Eruvaka festival in a grand way across the state.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the festival on June 20, the day of Eruvaka Purnima, in West Godavari district. Eruvaka (time of sowing seeds) is a festival which is especially celebrated by the farmers of coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh.
It is celebrated on Eruvaka Purnima and on that day the farmers decorate their cattle and equipment, sow samples of seed called Navadhanyalu and pray for good harvest. Eruvaka Purnima falls on the full moon day (Purnima) of Jyesta month of traditional calendar.
On this day, farmers worship the yoke, the plough and the bulls with turmeric. They inaugurate the annual cultivation by ploughing 12 lines in their fields, as it is supposed to be an auspicious day auguring fresh showers.
The government has decided to celebrate Eruvaka festival in a large scale in every district and already formed committees in every district. District collectors will act as the hairmen of the committees, and the festivals and related cultural programmes will be organised Assembly segment-wise.
The joint director (agriculture) and other officers will be there in the committees to look after the programmes as allthe programmes will be monitored by the agriculture department.
The government has decided to encourage farmers who are into poly-cropping.
District collectors, agriculture officers and ministers of the respective districts will participate in the Eruvaka festival and guide the farming community over the new methods of agriculture and also promote awareness about organic farming to them.
