š¾ Tusu Parab in Purulia – The Festival of the Earth, Women & Winter
When the Red Soil Sings in Joy
In the heart of winter, when the golden paddy has been harvested and the fields rest in silence, Purulia awakens to music. The cold breeze carries songs, laughter, and the hum of womenās voices rising from every village. Itās Tusu Parab – the festival that celebrates harvest, womanhood, and hope, and no place lives it quite like Purulia.
At Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp, this is more than a festival. Itās the heartbeat of the land – a month-long melody that brings together earth, community, and tradition.
š¾ What is Tusu Parab?
Tusu Parab, also known as Tusu Festival, is one of the most vibrant folk festivals of West Bengalās Purulia district, celebrated mostly by the Santhal, Kurmi, and tribal farming communities.
Held during Poush Sankranti (mid-January), when the harvest season ends, Tusu is a thanksgiving to the Goddess Tusu – a symbol of fertility, womanhood, and prosperity.
But Tusu is more than worship – itās folk art, song, and sisterhood woven together. Itās when village women, especially young girls, gather by the riverbanks and fields to sing traditional Tusu geet (songs), decorate idols, and share offerings from the harvest – rice, jaggery, sesame, and milk.
š¶ The Spirit of Tusu: A Festival Without Priests or Temples
Unlike most Hindu festivals, Tusu Parab has no fixed rituals, priests, or temples. The goddess lives in the rhythm of daily life.
A small clay or bamboo idol, adorned with fresh flowers, rice stalks, and red cloth, becomes the center of worship. Songs are sung not from books, but from memory – passed down from mothers and grandmothers.
Every evening, the air fills with Tusu geet – soulful yet spirited folk songs about:
- The bond between mother and daughter š¾
- Love, dreams, and sorrow š«
- The joy of harvest and the power of nature š»
These songs are spontaneous, improvised, and sung in chorus – voices rising with the drumbeats of madol and the laughter of women.
Tusu Parab is a celebration of womenās voices – unfiltered, strong, and rooted in earth.
š When and Where Tusu Comes Alive in Purulia
Tusu begins in late December (Poush month) and peaks around Makar Sankranti (14-15 January).
Across Purulia, villages like Murguma, Jhalda, and Baghmundi turn into open-air festivals. Women gather near rivers – especially the Subarnarekha and Kangsabati, their tributaries, and around the lakes of Purulia – singing late into the night.
At Murguma Lake, the celebration takes on a serene and sacred rhythm. Women from nearby villages such as Gurabera and Ghatbera gather along the lakeshore at dusk, carrying offerings of rice, jaggery, flowers, and diyas. As the sun sets behind the Ajodhya Hills, they float small earthen lamps and leaf bowls on the still water – a symbolic offering to Goddess Tusu for prosperity and peace. The reflection of hundreds of flickering lamps on the lake turns the evening into a vision of divine calm.
The most spectacular celebration happens during the Tusu Mela (Fair) – where villagers bring their Handmade Choudals (decorated towers) for a friendly competition. These Choudals, crafted with bamboo, cloth, paper, and mirrors, are brightly painted with mythological and social themes, and their processions fill the air with colour, music, and joy.
šø Tusu and Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp – A Living Experience
For guests staying at Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp, Tusu Parab isnāt something you watch – itās something you feel.
Set amid Murguma Lake and the Ajodhya Hills, Bon Polashi sits right in the heart of Puruliaās festival belt. The campās local guides and tribal staff come from nearby villages, and during Tusu, they bring the celebration home.
Visitors can:
- Join local women in preparing Tusu idols and offerings.
- Learn Tusu songs and folk dances by evening bonfire.
- Attend a village Tusu Mela, guided by Bon Polashiās cultural interpreters.
- Taste seasonal delicacies like Patali Gur sweets, puffed rice, and roasted sesame.
Itās a time when guests become part of the community – sharing meals, stories, and music beneath the starlit winter sky.
š The Connection Between Tusu and Chhau
Though Tusu Parab belongs to women, its festive energy spreads to all. In many parts of Purulia, Tusu season flows naturally into Chhau dance festivals – the regionās iconic masked performance tradition.
After harvest, men and women together celebrate the rhythm of life – Tusu through song, and Chhau through dance.
Both share the same spirit – gratitude to the land, and the joy of living close to nature.
š The Taste of Tusu: Food & Community
No festival in Purulia is complete without its food, and Tusu is no exception.
Villages prepare simple yet soulful dishes:
- Puffed rice and jaggery laddoos
- Fresh date palm juice (Khejurer Ras)
- Boiled red rice and mustard greens
- Smoked fish and Mahua-infused snacks
At Bon Polashi, guests enjoy a Tusu-inspired local feast – all made from organic farm ingredients. Dinner is served under the stars, as traditional songs echo through the forest – a perfect fusion of culture and calm.
š Why You Should Experience Tusu Parab in Purulia
Visiting Purulia during Tusu isnāt just about attending a festival – itās about experiencing the soul of Bengalās tribal heritage.
Hereās why itās special:
- Cultural Authenticity: No commercialization – just pure, community-led celebration.
- Folk Art & Music: Rare chance to experience traditional Tusu songs, crafts, and Choudals.
- Human Connection: Villagers welcome outsiders with warmth and pride.
- Eco-Cultural Stay: At Bon Polashi, you live close to where it all happens – surrounded by hills, lakes, and stories.
š¼ Final Words: The Earth Sings in Winter
Tusu Parab is more than a festival – itās a reminder that joy grows from gratitude, and that the land, like the human heart, blooms when itās loved.
Every drumbeat, every song, every shared meal during Tusu tells the same truth:
The earth gives, and we celebrate by giving back. š¾
At Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp, Tusu isnāt just observed – itās lived.
So this winter, come listen to Purulia sing.
Because when the women of the red soil raise their voices to the sky, even the hills seem to dance. š¶