More than 2,500 visitors, mostly farmers and locals, participated in the traditional vegetable and seeds festival held on the campus of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Vellore on Sunday.

A press release said the festival, which was organised by Isha Yoga Center, brought together seed conservators, natural farmers, agricultural scientists, entrepreneurs, and urban growers focused on traditional seeds, chemical-free cultivation, and farmer prosperity. It is also a major knowledge-sharing platform with expert talks and a large exhibition.

The event was presided over by Shankar Viswanathan, vice-president, VIT. The festival also featured a grand exhibition with over 100 stalls showcasing more than 2,000 rare traditional seed varieties, tubers, and natural farm products from across the country.

The Seed Conservator Awards-2026 were presented to nine farmers from six States in recognition of their efforts to conserve traditional seeds, the release added.