Such celebrations will keep our ancient history alive

Bhairahawa, July 1

Commemorating the tradition dating way back to the time of King Suddhodhan of Kapilvastu in which the paddy planting season was inaugurated with the king breaking earth with a golden plough, paddy was cultivated in the field of Tilaurakot Durbar today.

It’s been two years since Lumbini Development Fund started the ritual. Today’s symbolic paddy plantation ceremony was inaugurated by Agriculture and Animals and Birds Development Minister Chakrapani Khanal.

Besides ploughing the field, the minister also engaged himself in planting paddy seedlings in the field.

Earlier, Khanal yesterday had inaugurated Paddy Plantation Day in Bardiya. The day was celebrated across the country yesterday.

LDF Vice-chair Abadhesh Kumar Tripathi hoped the paddy plantation ceremony would not only promote tourism but also help keep the ancient custom alive.

A Buddhist teacher and local of Taulihawa Tej Kumar Baudhacharya, 91, said he was happy that the royal paddy plantation ceremony that was initiated by King Suddhodhan about 2,600 years ago in Kapilvastu was being celebrated now.

“Such celebration will keep our ancient history alive,” said fund member Rajesh Gyawali. Today, as a part of the ceremony, paddy was planted in 4 kathha land in the field abutting the durbar.