Eruvaka Purnima

Eruvaka Purnima is a farmers festival celebrated in many parts of South India, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Eruvaka Purnima falls on the full moon day (Purnima), in the month of Jyesta. On this day farmers worship the yoke, the plough and the bulls with turmeric and kumkum. They broke the Coconuts in front of yokes and bulls. They inaugurate the annual cultivation by ploughing five or nine lines in their fields on this day, as it is supposed to be an auspicious day auguring fresh showers.

On this day people cook payasam, a small dish and enjoy it with their children and relatives.Other part of India some people worship the bullock. They wash the cattle, smear and decorate the hooves and horns with oil and a variety of colours and feed them with pulagam (rice, green gram dal and sesame cooked together).  Little bells are tied to their horns and necks and they are driven out into the open space to wander and run about. The tillers take home a part of the festoon that is tied to the village gate, after the cattle pass under it as a talisman for the ensuring year. Some Children collect seeds a week in advance and sow them in the corners of the temple.The gladly dressed people and the colourfully decorated cattle make the village a grand spectacle of colour and magnificence.

Evruvaka Purnima is an ancient festival. Srikrishna also quoted about this festival as "Karshaka Yagna". This festival mentioned as Eruvaka sitayagnam in Vishnu Puranam. Srikrishna devaraya encouraged this festival presented gifts to farmers on this day. According to one story Maharaj Shuddodhana (Kapilavastu) Gifted golden plough to famers on Eruvaka Purnima.

Eruvaka Purnima is also known as Krushi Purnima in northern parts of India.