On Aadi 18 (August 3, 2025), the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) held its annual Seed Sowing Festival. This year, we’ve expanded our collection to 179 traditional paddy varieties. The event featured the ancient Mulaipari ritual and a ceremonial plowing by our bullocks, Veeran and Theeran. Guests participated in sowing seeds that were treated using the Mundram Kombu Vithaipu process, a method that boosts germination. The seeds will be cultivated on our dedicated two-acre conservation plot using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method. The festival concluded with a feast of dishes made from our heritage paddy varieties, celebrating our commitment to biodiversity and traditional farming.
