Tenhipalam: The paddy planting festival organised by the Pallickal Polder Committee at Puthoor witnessed massive participation from local residents, turning the paddy field networks here into a celebration of farming traditions.

As many as 16 farmers marked the start of the farming season by planting saplings across 50 acres of paddy fields. The event began with Rajisha and Arjun, students from Buds School in Pallickal, stepping into the muddy fields to plant the first saplings.

They were soon joined by 14 other students from the Buds School, who experienced paddy planting firsthand. Around 100 students from Pallickal AMUP School also participated enthusiastically, led by their teachers.

Adding to the festive mood, Cholakkaramad Chinna, senior-most farm worker in the village, sang traditional Njattu Pattu (sowing songs), with others spiritedly repeating her lines.

The saplings used for planting were prepared with seeds distributed by the panchayat, at a ratio of 30 kg per acre. Lime for the fields was provided at half the market price, while the local body has also promised half the wages to support the labourers.

The planting drive will continue for the next week in fields around the village. Migrant workers lead most of the planting operations while three local farmhands have also joined in.

Ward Member N P Nidheesh Kumar, Polder Committee Chairman Cholakkara Nandakumar, Convenor T Aslam, Agricultural Officer Mridul Vinod, Agricultural Assistant Santosh Kumar, Sabeena, T A Basheer, Kadavath Gangadharan and Shashi Koodathil were among those present.