"Sowing the Love for Nature": Farmers Embrace Dawn Pooja Rituals to Honor the Sun God before they Start their Day

Geethalakshmi K

Kallappa in his stable

"OM SURYAYA SVAHA, SURYAYĀ IDAM NA MAMA PRAJA-PATAYE SVAHA, PRAJA-PATAYE IDAM NA MAMA'' Kallappa chants sholkas while he makes offerings to the fire, performs a havan ritual, and seeks blessings from the Sun on his farm twice a day in the serene village of Halingli. The Agnihotra shloka translates to "Hail Lord of Creation, this offering is not mine but thine". He believes ploughing the field and sowing the seeds is not just enough for good yields. There is a lot more than the basic practices of farming. It is about bowing down to nature with humility. This belief resonates with a story from the Hindu text- Bhagavatam. In this story, Lord Krishna instructs the people of Nandagokul to worship Govardhan Mountain, acknowledging its role in stopping clouds and ensuring essential rainfall for agriculture and livelihood.

Likewise, Kallappa’s day doesn’t begin and end with mere agricultural practices, but with a spiritual connection with the elements of nature. He too prays, seeks blessings for soil, and shows his gratitude to the sun god. He firmly believes that the flames and fumes arising from fire purify the atmosphere and draw positivity. Innocently, Kallappa mentions, "I rely on the radio for the sunrise and sunset timings, as it is more accurate than TV." This highlights the significant influence and effectiveness of radio in rural India as a medium that still holds power to govern decisions and can induce behavioural nudges.

Kallappa stands as a testament to why agriculture is still the backbone of India. Beyond providing livelihood, agriculture still holds profound spiritual and cultural significance with deep-rooted practices that bind the human spirit to nature creating a dynamic ecosystem.