KATHMANDU, JUNE 29

Nepalis across the country are celebrating National Paddy Day today by planting rice and eating dahi chiura (curd and beaten rice), a tradition that blends agriculture with culture.

The day honors farmers' labor during the busy rice planting season and is marked by singing folk songs, playing in the mud, and promoting the importance of paddy cultivation. Even those outside agriculture join in by eating dahi chiura, believed to cool the body and restore energy.

President Ramchandra Paudel and government officials have highlighted the day's importance in achieving food security and self-reliance in rice production. National Paddy Day has been officially observed since 2062 BS.

Despite the celebrations, this year's plantation has been slower in some regions due to inadequate rainfall and fertilizer shortages, though the Ministry of Agriculture claims sufficient stock is available.

The festival is also tied to health and tradition-curd is viewed as auspicious and beneficial, with roots in both Ayurveda and cultural rituals.

This year's theme is 'Intensity in Paddy Production: Food Security and Self-Reliance.'