Farmers in Nepal celebrate rice planting day with special feasts and festivities
The Nepal government has declared National Paddy Day a holiday and tried to encourage people to continue or return to farming rice, as many increasingly look to take up other professions.
Associated Press
July 04, 2023 / 11:16 IST
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Thousands of farmers and their families across Nepal celebrated an annual paddy festival by planting rice, splashing in the muddy fields and enjoying a special feast. (Source: AP)
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The farmers were joined by other villagers, visitors from the cities and tourists visiting the Himalayan nation. (Source: AP)
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Rice is a staple food for millions of Nepalese and the crop is generally planted once a year in July and harvested about four months later. (Source: AP)
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Farmers and their families sang traditional songs to welcome the rain that is needed for the rice to grow and thanked the gods for sending the precipitation on time. (Source: AP)
After planting lines of rice, they splashed in the muddy fields, smeared each other with mud and sand, and danced more before culminating the celebration with a feast. (Source: AP)
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The day is also known as “dahi chiura” for the yogurt and beaten rice that comprises one of the main dishes eaten during the feast. (Source: AP)
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Elsewhere in the country, people ate yogurt and puffed rice with mangos and bananas to mark the day at home. (Source: AP)
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The government has declared National Paddy Day a holiday and tried to encourage people to continue or return to farming rice, as many increasingly look to take up other professions. (Source: AP)
