Tusu Festival: A Song of Harvest, Hope, and Heartfelt Traditions

Introduction

Tusu Festival, also known as Tusu Parab, is a vibrant folk festival celebrated mainly in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and parts of Bihar. Observed during the harvest season in the month of Poush (December–January), the festival reflects the joy of agricultural abundance and the emotional world of rural women. Tusu is not just a festival—it is a living tradition of songs, devotion, love, and collective expression.

Who is Tusu?

Tusu is symbolized as a young maiden or folk goddess, representing purity, fertility, prosperity, and youthful dreams. Clay or bamboo idols of Tusu are decorated with flowers, colored paper, and ornaments, and finally immersed in rivers or ponds on Makar Sankranti.

Cultural Significance

The soul of the Tusu Festival lies in its songs, sung mostly by young girls and women. These songs are composed in local dialects such as Nagpuri, Kurmali, Bengali, and Sadri. Through these songs, women express:

• Love and longing

• Social customs and restrictions

• Dreams of marriage

• Pain of separation

• Hopes for a better life

The festival thus becomes a voice for women, especially those from agrarian and tribal communities.

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Traditional Tusu Songs

Below are some popular Tusu songs traditionally sung during the festival. (Lyrics may vary by region.)

1. Invocation Song

Song sung at the beginning to welcome Tusu.

“Ālo Tusu ālo re,
Poush māser sheshe ālo re,
Sonār phul diye sajābo tore,
Gāṅyer mān bāṛhālo re.”

Meaning:
Oh Tusu, you have arrived at the end of Poush month.
We decorate you with golden flowers,
You bring honor and prosperity to our village.

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2. Song of Longing

Expressing the emotions of young girls.

“Tusu go, āmār moner kathā,
Kāke bolbo āmi byathā?
Bāper bāṛi chhoṛe jābo,
Shoshur bāṛi kobe jābo?”

Meaning:
Oh Tusu, you know my heart’s pain.
Whom shall I tell my sorrow to?
I will leave my father’s home—
When will I go to my husband’s home?

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3. Social Reflection Song

Reflects women’s lives and social realities.

“Tusu tor biye holo nā,
Shonar phul jhore gelo,
Mayer chokher jol pore,
Meye porer ghore gelo.”

Meaning:
Tusu, your marriage did not happen,
Golden flowers fell away.
Mother’s tears flowed,
The daughter went to another home.

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4. Farewell Song (Immersion Day)

Sung while immersing the Tusu idol.

“Āj Tusu jābe bhāsān,
Aśru jhore du’ nōyon,
Bāchhor ābār āśbi Tusu,
Ei āśāte thāke mon.”

Meaning:
Today Tusu will be immersed,
Tears fall from both eyes.
Come again next year, Tusu—
This hope keeps our hearts alive.

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Celebrations and Community Bonding

Villages organize Tusu melas (fairs), song competitions, and group processions. The collective singing strengthens community bonding, preserves oral traditions, and passes cultural knowledge from one generation to the next.

Relevance Today

In modern times, Tusu songs are also used to raise awareness about:

• Education for girls

• Women’s rights

• Migration and labor issues

• Preservation of indigenous culture

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Conclusion

The Tusu Festival is a melody of the soil, sung with simplicity and sincerity. Its songs carry the emotions of countless women—past and present—making Tusu not just a festival, but a cultural archive of rural life. As long as these songs are sung, Tusu will live on in the hearts of the people.

References:

Banerjee, P. (2008). Women, folk traditions, and cultural expression in eastern India. Kolkata: K.P. Bagchi & Company.

Chakrabarti, K. (2011). Folk festivals of Bengal: Tradition and transformation. Indian Folklore Research Journal, 8(2), 45–58.

Datta, A. (2015). Oral traditions and women’s voices in tribal festivals of Jharkhand. Journal of Social Anthropology, 12(1), 67–81.

Mahato, S. (2017). Tusu Parab: A study of folk religion and ritual songs. Ranchi: Jharkhand Tribal Research Institute.

Sen, S. (2004). Folk culture of Bengal: Songs, rituals, and performances. New Delhi: Aryan Books International.