Vijayawada, June 29 (HS): Union and Andhra Pradesh ministers, led by Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh, will participate in the traditional Eruvaka Pournami celebrations at the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) at Lam near Guntur on Monday.

The annual celebrations mark the formal commencement of the Kharif agricultural season in Andhra Pradesh.

The programme will begin at 9 a.m. under the chairmanship of ANGRAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. V. Satyanarayana.

Union Minister Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar and State Ministers Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Kandula Durgesh and Nadendla Manohar are also scheduled to attend. Several MLAs, MLCs, chairpersons of corporations and local public representatives will participate in the event.

Eruvaka Pournami, observed on the full moon day of the Jyeshtha month at the onset of the monsoon, is an important agricultural festival symbolising the bond between farmers and nature. The celebrations include traditional rituals to welcome the Kharif season and pray for a bountiful harvest and farmers' prosperity.

A major attraction of the event will be the ceremonial worship of the traditional plough, followed by symbolic tilling of the land using decorated bullocks to mark the beginning of agricultural operations.

Principal Secretary (Agriculture) B. Rajasekhar, Agriculture Director Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon and Guntur District Collector C. M. Saikanth Varma will attend as special guests.

Addressing a press conference, ANGRAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. V. Satyanarayana said the integration of traditional agricultural wisdom with modern technology and scientific resource management would help make farming more sustainable and profitable.

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 large numbers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar