Published on: April 30, 2025
By: BTI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The Pt. Shiv Kumar Shastri Agricultural College, Surgi, observed the traditional Akhti festival with devotion and agricultural customs on campus. The celebrations began with a ceremonial seed sowing in the college’s agricultural field, accompanied by rituals and prayers to Chhattisgarh Mahtari (Mother Chhattisgarh) and Mother Earth.
On this occasion, a program was held in the college auditorium where senior professor Dr. R. N. Ganguly addressed the gathering. He explained that Akhti, also known as Akshaya Tritiya in other regions, holds significant cultural value in Chhattisgarh. It symbolizes the beginning of the sowing season, and farmers pray for prosperity and a good harvest.
Dr. Nitin Kumar Turre, the acting Dean of the college, elaborated on the mythological and religious importance of the festival, emphasizing its relevance in traditional agricultural practices and rural livelihoods.
The event was anchored by Assistant Professor Dr. Dwivedi Prasad, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Santosh Kumar Sahu. The celebration witnessed the presence of faculty members including Dr. Manoj Kumar Chandrakar, Dr. Shivaji Limje, along with college staff and students who actively participated in the event.
The festival celebration reinforced the connection between agriculture, tradition, and spirituality, reminding students and attendees of the cultural richness embedded in farming rituals.
