On Thursday morning, the Putharikandam Maidan will witness the second paddy harvest in recent times.
The rich green paddy spikes are ready to be reaped from the small field created at the eastern end of the sprawling ground. Mayor K. Chandrika told presspersons here on Wednesday that this year's harvest had been timed to coincide with the Niraputhari festival at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. Last year, the harvest was in February.
One of the harvested paddy stacks, she said, would be taken to the Mandapam on the banks of the Padmatheertham temple tank and handed over to the members of the royal family of the erstwhile Travancore. On Friday morning, the stacks would be presented to the temple deity as a traditional offering.
The Mayor said school children would be present to witness the harvest.
The field measuring 30 cents was created inside the Maidan last year as part of a project to beautify the grounds. During the days of the erstwhile Travancore, the entire Maidan was a paddy field. The harvested crop served the needs of the temple and the Kowdiar palace.
Joint initiative
The renovation of the field was a joint initiative of the Corporation and the Department of Agriculture. Members of Karshika Karma Sena, Kudappanakunnu, sowed and tended to the field.
Ms. Chandrika said the venture aimed at reviving the heritage values for the younger generations and familiarise them with traditions. Deputy Mayor G. Happi Kumar, UDF leader Johnson Joseph, BJP leader P. Ashok Kumar and chairman of the standing committee on welfare Palayam Rajan were present at the press conference. They later inspected the paddy field and the beautification work of the grounds.
