India is a land of such multifarious and eclectic nuances that even one lifetime wouldn't be enough to explore it. Once in a while, we experience a fragment of such diversity, leaving us in awe. Let's consider the upcoming Makar Sankranti and its myriad hues in different Indian regions. I learned the existence of another facet of this festival which is primarily restricted to Northern Odisha, West Bengal and part of Jharkhand. Thanks to my short stay in a small town, Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, during my school days. It is called Tusu or Tusu Parab. The semi-rural city shares borders with West Bengal and the united Bihar (erstwhile). And the entire belt of these three states is highly populated by Tribal. The arrival of Tusu used to cast a rustic festive charm, and the sing-song music in the local dialect in memory of Goddess Tusu would come alive. What made these memories even denser were those delectable varieties of traditional pitha (rice and lentil dumplings), sweets prepared by a few neighbours and distributed to the neighbourhood. Fast forward to today, the mention of Makar Sankranti conjures up images of the Tusu festival and its vivid tones.
Tusu's celebration
Makar Sankranti is known and celebrated as Tusu Parab, staying true to its folk traditions. The largest concentrations of its celebration may be seen in significant parts of South Bengal, Jharkhand, and northeastern Odisha. On Makar Sankranti, a harvest festival, Goddess Tusu is honoured with thunderous cheers, heartfelt tributes, food, fairs, music, or Tusu gaan. Rice and paddy are the core constituents of it.
Young girls worshipping Goddess Tusu, Image Source: sahapedia@Instagram
The last paddy stack on the field after everything else has been cut off is called dinimai. It's Tusu, the dinimai which is brought from the farm by the family's head, and the young girls start Tusu that day. The Bengali word for rice bran, "tush," or husk, is said to be the source of the word "tusu." However, there more school of thoughts claiming different connotations of the word "Tusu."
The ornamental Tusu chaurals
At Paus' or Poush's conclusion, the participants arranged the instruments in a structure resembling a temple fashioned of bamboo, paper, and other embellishments. These are called chaurals, vehicle of Goddess Tusu. To honour Makar Sankranti, people proceed in a procession to nearby waterbodies, where they immerse the idol and the chaural and take a dip.
A man immersing Tusu chaural, Image Source: satlujstudio@Instagram
Recent changes have occurred in the way indigenous people now observe Tusu. On Sankranti, some prefer not to immerse their chaurals; instead, they carry them to fairs in neighbouring villages where competitions are held. To earn rewards, many youths choose to have tall, ornamental chaurals.
Traditional festive food and use of ingredients
Girls present rice, flowers, and other items on a base made of rice bran as part of the ceremony. Throughout the entire month of Paush (starting on 17 December 2022 and ending on 15 January 2023), these are placed in a designated arrangement within a room and used to worship the goddess Tusu. Similar traditions are used to celebrate Tusu in roughly all communities. While many traditional practices have evolved, one feature that has preserved its originality is the cuisine. During this festival, particularly on Makar Sankranti, a variety of peethas, both steamed and fried dumplings, are prepared. The gur peetha, also known as arsa in the area, are integral to Tusu Parab. These peethas mainly call for grounded rice flour and jaggery; at times, freshly grated coconut is added to the ingredients list.
Traditional peetha prepared during Tusu, Image Source: Thatfoodiefreak@Instagram
There are also native pancakes and crepes. Mudhi lai, tilkut, and roti pitha are a few of the most well-known dishes, particularly in the Jharkhand region. These are cooked in huge amounts at home and distributed to friends and family. This sharing of celebratory treats highlights the value of unity during the auspicious occasion. In Bengal, the harvest festival of Tusu is held chiefly in the Purulia district and culminates on the last day of Poush month. Rice and sesame dumplings with coconut fillings are among the festival foods dedicated to the goddess.
In memory of Tusumani
As I am an urbanite now and have come far away from those rustic festivities, I recollect the stories of Tusu, which had many legends. Some believed she was Tusumani, a poor daughter of a potter who got married to a prince but lost him to death. She couldn't endure the separation and jumped into the pyre of her deceased husband on Makar Sankranti. Another version talks of Tusumani, who saved the lives of villagers by drowning herself in a river. The third legend narrates how the statue of Tusumani, a beautiful young girl who had a premature death, kept her beloved king alive and helped him recover from the trauma. Whichever stories one believes, the festival brings back Tusumani to life. The flavours of food specially made during this time make all of it feel more real.
Tusu is one of the myriad facets of Makar Sankranti celebrated in India. Nevertheless, rustic festivals like this are custodians of Indian vibrant culture.
