Fields that feed festivals

Farmers share the age-old rituals of celebrating harvest, with stories of why they hold on to the dwindling profession

- Photos: Sonu M Kothari

IN late December and early January days, the chill of the night fades into the warmth of the day, whilst winter's breath still brushing| past, the first ray of the symbolising new begincasts golden hues that bathe the greens, yellows, and browns of the leaves, flowers, and stems. All around, crops are heavy and ripe, bending gently as they await harvest.

Cutting through these acres, one can see farmers, unfettered by the weather or the time, beginning the day's work.

"I come to kalani (farm) as early as 5 am during the season and leave only in the evening, says K Jaya, who has been farming for almost 60 years. "I go to the farm at 6 in the morning and return by 9 am. If there is a lot of work, then I stay till evening. When it comes to work, I work hard because I want to see food on my kids' and everyone's plates. That keeps me motivated," shares Mohanan V, an organic farmer with over 70 years of experience in agriculture. He adds, "From the age of five or six, I have been going to the fields every day. My father used to take me with him and made it a point that I continue farming.

There were many times when I wanted to quit because of the lack of manpower, but I would always ask myself, 'if not us, who will feed the citizens?"" Farmers like Mohanan, Jaya, and millions of others ensure that our plates and stomachs have something to hold. Its not merely said that farmers are the backbone of our country. Harvest festivals are a way of showing gratitude towards farmers, the earth, and the sun.

CE takes a field day to trace how farmers prepared for the four-day festival — Pongal.