Why in the news
A feature on traditional Indian farming wisdom argues that sky and season based knowledge offers lessons for a sustainable agricultural future.
Key facts
- Farming was seen as a sacred symbiosis with nature, not just output.
- Time was understood as cyclical, sacred and seasonal.
- The Moon’s 27 nakshatras were thought to shape each day’s energy for sowing, watering, harvesting or resting.
Nakshatras and farm tasks
| Nakshatra | Role |
|---|
| Rohini | Ruled by the Moon, linked to abundance; best for sowing |
| Mrigashira | Linked to exploration; suited to finding new plots or rotating crops |
| Bharani | Intense transformation; avoided for sowing, used for composting and soil regeneration |
Ritu Chakra: six seasons
| Ritu | Farm activity |
|---|
| Vasanta (Spring) | Tilling and field preparation |
| Grishma (Summer) | Sowing drought-resistant crops such as millets; careful water saving |
| Varsha (Monsoon) | Kharif crops like paddy; songs to Indra; upkeep of bunds |
| Sharad (Autumn) | Harvest celebrations and thanksgiving |
| Hemanta (Early Winter) | Sowing Rabi crops like wheat and mustard |
| Shishira (Late Winter) | Digging root vegetables; fields rest fallow |
Exam angle
- Number of nakshatras: 27.
- Number of ritus: 6.
- Season for Rabi sowing: Hemanta; Kharif planting: Varsha.