Question

• Think of an important festival that is celebrated in your region that has its roots in agrarian society. What is the significance of the various practices or rituals that are associated with that festival, and how are they linked to agriculture?
• Most towns and cities in India have grown and encompassed surrounding villages. Can you identify an area of the city or town where you live that used to be a village, or areas that were once agricultural land? How do you think this growth takes place, and what happens to the people who used to make a living from that land?

Answer 1

Part 1: Agrarian Festival (Bail Pola):

• The Festival: Bail Pola is celebrated in Maharashtra to thank bulls for their hard work.
• The Rituals: Farming stops for the day. Bulls are bathed, decorated, and fed sweet puran poli.
• Agricultural Link: It marks the end of the hectic ploughing and sowing season.

Part 2: Urban Growth and Its Impact:

• Local Example: Areas like Powai and Goregaon in Mumbai were once farming villages (Gaothans).
• How Growth Happens: Cities expand when the government and builders buy rural fields to build roads, factories, and apartments.
• Impact on People:
  • Landowners lose their fields and struggle to find jobs in the city.
  • Landless labourers lose their livelihoods completely.
  • Farmers are forced to become low-wage labourers (like security guards or construction workers).