A Harvest Scene

India is a land of villages and a land of farmers. It was the middle of April. I had a chance to go to my village. The fields for miles around were full of the yellow ripened crop of wheat. The fields waved in the gentle breeze. The air was full of peculiar accent. The scenery all around was most picturesque. The farmer's job knew no bounds. They sang and danced with joy at the sight of a bumper crop.

The only charm in a farmer's life is a good harvest. There are many festivals on the eve of harvesting. The Baisakhi is one of the harvest festivals in Northern India.

The next day was the harvesting day. There were bustle and activity on all sides. The farmers with sickles and scythes in their hands set out to reap the ripe crop. They sang and danced to the beating of drums. They were made with joy. They sat in a line at one end of the field. They reaped and reaped till it was noon. The drummers went on beating the drums. At noon, they stopped. They rested for a while and had their lunch.

It consisted of chapatis and a glass full of milk and jaggery. After a little nap, they again set to work. They vied with one another in the output of their work. They were so happy at the prospect of a rich harvest that they knew no fatigue. They toiled from morn till night yet never felt bored.

Many farmers use harvest combines but in small farms, these machines are not useful. The harvesting time is a hectic time for the farmers. They are busy days and nights. They know no rest. All hands are required, all young and old men and women are put to the job. There is a race against time. The harvest must be brought home in the shortest possible time for who knows the rains may come and spoil the whole show.

As the sunset, the harvested crop was bound into sheaves. They were carried and stored in a safe place. The harvesting went on for a number of days. The farmers were very generous. They gave freely to all who came to them for a handful of stalks. They were intensely happy at the fruit of their honest and diligent labor. They did not send away anybody empty-handed. They obliged one and all whether watermen, laborers, menials, or beggars.

The farmers lend all their energies to the task to avoid all risks. A harvesting scene is a rare scene. It is indeed a sight to see the farmers singing and dancing out of spontaneous joy.