Sunday, 4 December 2016

Tusu Songs- Their Usage In The Older And Modern Era



Not just the name but also the rituals related to Tusu festival are highly enticing. Talking of Purulia, Goddess Tusu is welcomed here with songs sung by women. They wake up early morning, keep fast, get the household chores done and then go ahead with the rituals of this puja. Specially on the eve of Makar Sankranti, they keep a fast and sing throughout the night. The older tusu songs usually are known as “fertility songs”. Through these songs people plead to goddess tusu for a plentiful harvest. Though were sung in the older days, even today they are popular for their plaintive melody. Interestingly, the older tusu songs were not accompanied by any instruments.

Tusu Songs- How they were used years ago

According to the tribal group here, these songs were popularly meant for offering respect to Tusu. Known as “jagaran songs”, they were looked upon as a mode of awakening her- the goddess of fertility and virgin unplanted earth. However, the traditional belief  that still prevails is that Tusu symbolizes a mother, friend, daughter, a lover and a protector whom women can pour their hearts out to. Thus the older songs dealt with welcoming the goddess and expressing to her their joys, sorrows, longings as well as struggles.

Tusu Songs in the Modern age
[A group performing Tusu dance at a cultural event in Port Blair]

As of the modern times, this concept has undergone wide change. Now they are used for not just ritualistic reasons  but also for non -ritualistic purposes too- as protest against immorality, political songs, commercial love songs and even as material for school level competitions. Also the most notable change found with tusu songs of the modern era is that they are now accompanied by instruments.

A current tusu song adheres to the following imagery:

Tusu has picked up a sickle in her hand
And she is going to harvest that rice
which is grown with blood.
Landholders will come rushing up
[But] Tusu has courageously made up her mind
She holds the sickle with a firm grip

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