A week before Sankranti, 52-year-old Marla Dillemma prepared Paulara, a traditional grain storage pit, by gathering clay, wildflowers, and paddy grains in Jalantara Saasanam village, Srikakulam district. This ancient ritual involves storing freshly harvested paddy in a pit made of straw, clay, and cow dung called Paathara. Ms. Dillemma’s family stored nearly 30 bags of paddy this year for household use and rituals. Once common among every farming family, only two Paatharas were built this year in the village of 200 households. Paathara pits symbolize family prosperity and ensure rice with a unique taste and health benefits, as per villagers. Elder Chinnodu Gorakala said, "Rice made from Paathara-stored paddy is believed to be a healthy choice." However, the tradition is disappearing. Cement roads and concrete houses replaced thatched homes, leaving little space for Paatharas. Ms. Dillemma's son, Jagadeesh, may be the last to carry this heritage forward. "The bullock cart is gone from our lives. Next could be the Paathara tradition—its future now rests with my son," she said. Villages like Kesupuram and Boorjapadu still hold a few Paatharas, but many have lost them. Traditional storage protects grain from rodents and theft, said balladeer Raamulamma Soori. Yet, modern storage systems and changing lifestyles threaten this sustainable method. Middlemen have started seeking Paathara-stored paddy for its flavour and medicinal value, but farmers worry: "Who will supply it when the tradition itself is vanishing?" asked Seetaram Behara, a local potter turned welder. Ms. Dillemma warned, "In our pursuit of modern storage facilities, we risk losing the flavours our ancestors cherished forever." She also noted the cultural loss if Paathara rice used in weddings disappears. The Paathara tradition stands at a crossroads, balancing heritage and modern life in Andhra Pradesh's Uddanam region.