VALPOI
In a significant focus on traditional agricultural practices, students of the Vivekanand Vidyalaya in Keri-Sattari revived the traditional ‘Puran Sheti’ (Puran farming) after a gap of 46 years.
This initiative was undertaken as part of the special ‘Puran Utsav’ programme, bringing a long-forgotten farming heritage back to life.
The project was implemented with the support of the Goa State Biodiversity Board, Goa University, local villagers, and social workers. Guidance for the revival was provided by Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer Dr Prakash Paryekar, under whose direction students began cultivating the field using traditional methods.
This marks the fourth Puran Shet in Sattari and the first in Keri in several decades.
Several dignitaries and community members attended the event, including folk artists, social workers, and representatives from educational and research institutions.
Speakers emphasised the importance of preserving Indian knowledge systems, traditional agriculture, Ayurveda, and sustainable lifestyles. They noted that reconnecting with indigenous farming practices can contribute to healthier living and ecological balance.
Students from Vivekanand Gyan Mandir Secondary School and Shree Bhumika Secondary School actively participated through Vedic chanting, traditional percussion, and hands-on field preparation under the guidance of their teachers.
More than 100 students learned about the concept, history, and geographical significance of the Puran Sheti.
The Puran Sheti tradition is associated with the collective well-being of the village. The field was ceremonially inaugurated by sowing seeds of the local rice variety ‘Rungat’. Villagers also joined enthusiastically, making the initiative a true community effort.
Students from Vivekanand Gyan Mandir Secondary School, Bhumika Secondary School, and Ganpat Parsekar College of Education, Pedne, participated in the activity.
The programme was compered by Prof. Naresh Naik, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Gopinath Gawas.
With the revival of Puran Shet after 46 years, a renewed sense of pride in Keri’s cultural and agricultural heritage has been rekindled across the region.
Puran Sheti is an ancient, sustainable, and organic, silt-based paddy cultivation method, which involves planting paddy in nutrient-rich river silt deposited during monsoon floods, requiring no ploughing or chemical fertilisers.
