Tusu Festival by The Kurmis of Jharkahnd and A brief about the Food They Make During These Festive days

While it is Makar Sankranti that is celebrated on the last day of Pous, for the Kurmi tribes of Jharkhand, it is Tusu Puja. They celebrate this colorful day by indulging in songs and dance and having gur peetha. Peetha is looked upon as a prominent dish not just for Makar Sankranti but also for Tusu festival. Made of rice husk, flour, suji or semolina, grated coconut and gur or jiggery, peetha comes in different shape and is also prepared in different methods. They enhance the mood of this festival.

The celebration starts one day prior to Makar Sankranti and on the day of makar Sankranti, a grand celebration is organized. For the Kurmi tribes, celebration of Tusu Puja is looked upon as a symbol of prosperity. The rituals are somewhat similar to that followed by the tribal group of Purulia and here they link it to the harvest festival. During this season, a small amount of the crop known as Dilli Budhi is left in the field untouched and it cut on the day of Aghan sanrant i.e December 14^th.

Dilli Budhi is after that taken back to homes and for the next one month, it is worshipped along with Goddess tusu. Each the Kurmis organize a grand prayer session at least for a day in this month at their home. On the 14 th of January i.e. the eve of Makar Sankranti, tusu idol is immersed in water. It is actually followed by a dance and song procession. Idols in Ranchi are usually immersed in River Swarnarakha.

Post makar Sanksranti and Tusu puja, grand fairs are organized in the village and this continues for a day or two. People gather here and indulge in songs and dance. Altogether, the kurmis celebrate this festival with great joy and happiness.