Paddy harvesting in the 21-acre Thoombady area of the Aranmula puncha began on Monday.
J. Sajeev, special officer deployed by the Agriculture Department, inaugurated paddy harvest by lighting a ceremonial lamp.
Two combine harvesters were pressed into service for paddy harvest in the puncha, once identified as the site for a private airport project.
The farmers, accompanied by Principal Agriculture Officer Shyla Joseph and Mr. Sajeev, reached the Sree Parthasarthy temple in a procession carrying the first bunch of paddy spikes harvested from the puncha. Ms. Joseph offered the bunch of paddy spikes before the mast at the Parthasarathy temple as the offering of the farmers. The temple head priest Mohana Rao received the paddy spikes.
The farmers said they would be offering 100 kg of paddy to the temple once the harvesting was completed.
Manoj Madhavasserry, Temple Advisory Committee president, and Pradeep Ayroor, BJP district secretary, were also present.
