TUSU — The Festival of Hope, in Rarh Bengal
- Debashis Show
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
Even in Bengal’s harsh winters, festivals have kept alive the emotions of her people. One such winter, agriculture-based festival is called Tusu. It is a folk festival celebrated for one whole month- from the end of Agrahayan to the end of Poush (Bengali months).
After harvesting paddy, farmers keep a bundle of the new rice either in the field or on a tree. On the day of Agrahayan Sankranti, the bundle is brought down and placed on a low wooden stool decorated with alpana (folk art designs). In some areas, this tree is called a “Muth”.
That day, unmarried village girls decorate their earthen pots by pasting rice powder on them and placing rice husk inside. On top of the husk, they beautifully decorate with paddy, cow dung paste, sacred grass (durba), polished rice, and various flowers. This is then kept on the stool or a straw bundle and placed inside a wall niche in their homes.
Every evening in the month of Poush, the girls gather and worship the goddess Tusu. Their main way of worship is through Tusu songs — songs filled with the joys and sorrows of both unmarried and married women. These songs include feelings of love, fights, jealousy, hatred, and more. Apart from everyday emotions, they also highlight social issues like politics, dowry, literacy, and domestic violence. These songs are passed from mouth to mouth, spreading to the farthest corners of Rarh Bengal, even among illiterate villagers.
Here, Tusu is not worshiped as a grand goddess, but as a dear girl from the household — a close friend of every woman, always by their side. Since she is seen as one of their own, the offerings given to her are simple home foods like puffed rice, sweets, lentils, radish, etc.
The last four days of Poush month are celebrated with more grandeur and are called: “Chauri,” “Bauri,” “Makar,” and “Akhan.”
On Chauri day, women clean the courtyard with cow dung water and grind rice using a traditional wooden tool called a “dheki” — though this is now rarely used.
On Bauri day, many types of rice cakes (pithe) are prepared. One popular variety is “Purpithe” or “Gorgore Pithe” — made by kneading rice flour in hot water, shaping them, and filling them with jaggery, sesame, coconut, or other sweet fillings.
That night, unmarried girls stay awake with Tusu, and before sunrise on Makar Sankranti, they immerse her in water. Even the married women of the house participate, offering puffed rice, fried chickpeas, fried peas, jalebi, and various sweets as offerings.
They stay awake all night to make rafts out of bamboo and thermocol, decorating them with designs and flower garlands.
On the morning of Makar Sankranti, girls go in groups to a nearby pond or dam, singing Tusu songs on the way. After immersing Tusu, they take a bath, wear new clothes, while the boys light a fire with straw or wood for the girls to warm themselves.
All pictures are clicked in Jamuna Bandh Area.
Some Popular Tusu Songs:
Tusu amar maa go-
Jamai ante jaago-
Jamai ana emni noy maa,
Dusho taka chago.
Kalo dekhe namlam jole
Jole tomar ke ache ?
Jolpane cheye dekho
Jole amar sob ache.
Jol jol koro tusu jole tomar ke ache ?
Monete vabiya dekho jole swasurghor ache.
Moder moner ei basona
Tusu dhonke jole dibo na.
Tusu amar khay na kichu
Shukhay gelo chand bodon
Rat hoile chand dhore dibo
Kando nago tusu dhon.
These little slices of life have been brought to life through words and tunes by folk artists. Over time, their families are slowly disappearing, but even today, the people of Rarh Bengal learn the meaning of unity and harmony from these festivals.
In rural Bengal, the month of Poush is known for happiness and prosperity. For farmers, prosperity means the goddess Lakshmi, and they worship Tusu as her form. Even as cultural traditions are fading, if you listen closely in the quiet corners of the village, you can still hear the simple melodies of Tusu songs.
