For
every puja, some core ingredients are required. The same is applicable for tusu
puja as well. However, the ways these ingredients are used differ from one
place to another. Here in this note, you are going to know more about the same.
Purulia
In
Purulia, the celebrations centre around the Chaudal. The chaudal or four sided
palanquin is a rectangular shaped structure made from bamboo and bright colored
paper. Some box-kites are glued to it and the structure is made quite tall,
somewhat around feet. Worship in Purulia belt is aniconic i.e. there no idols
are worshipped here. However, as of the present time, images are seen. Chauri, the
seed protectress, is worshipped on the first day of the three days long
celebration. Chauri is accompanied by goddess Chandi (another name for goddess kali)
and with Rohini, the woman who is believed to have discovered the first seeds.
On the day of the festival, all the rice is brought from the farm to the house
and then on the second day, small bundles are made and placed in the granary
for the coming year’s harvest. It is on this day that the chaudal is bought and
inside it, two cow dung balls are palced which respesnt the union of the female
and male qualities in the form of sacred couple Tusi (female) and Tusa (male).
Together they lead to the formation of Tusu.
Bankura
In
certain parts of West Bengal such as Bankura, all the ingredients for the puja
are placed carefully in a round shaped terracotta pot which is surrounded by
tiny lamps. the main ingredient used for this puja is rice husks over which 5
or 7 or 9 cow dung balls are placed. Along with this, some rice and crown
flower or akana, vermillion or haldi, flowers of mustard and radish, marigolds
and other auspiciuous objects are placed together. The earthen pot used is called
Alo-Khala or Tusu Khala as because lamps (Alo in Bengali) are placed around its
rim. This pot is placed carefully in the niche or kulungi in the wall and
during the evening, women sit around it and sing tusu songs.
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