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 restricti...