The Tusu Parab is held in Birbhum on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, where in its performance groups of young girls gather every evening throughout the month of Pousa (December-January), sing songs near the river banks and compete with the different groups. On the day of Makara Sankranti, the groups gather at one place & go to the village to a nearby tank or river with the goddess Tusu symbolized in small clay figurines or sometimes merely as cow-dung balls. After taking a sacred bath, they all worship the goddess and make offerings of rice to the deity as a token of respect & love.
Even the men have their particular songs and dances for the occasion, known as the Bhaduriya Saila. The performance of the dance is more traditional in nature, where the men dance in circles clock-wise and anti-clockwise direction. In some parts, the unmarried girls perform it. For them, Tusu, performed with graceful movements and elegance fulfils their desire of marriage. The Tusu dance has its tremendous store of songs, which reflect stories and the experiences of livelihood.
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(Last Updated on : 20/07/2009)
