festival of Purulia district. It is their 63 year's puja. "পটের পাটায়
রয়েছে প্রাণ, ওই শোনা যায় বাহা গান।" Once upon a time, the inhabitants
of Santhal Parganas used to take part in the Baha festival. But the
province is no more. Yet the cultural tradition is there among the
Santhal community. To uplift this heritage, the organizers picked up
the theme of this Baha or Tusu utsav. The festival is being celebrate
at the time of Poush sanktanti with the new crops. Tusu means the peel
of paddy and in Santhal language it calls baha. They use to serve the
new crops to their household goddess. So, the puja committee is using
the gola of paddy and temple of Shiva. They use to celebrate it by
heaping the crops on the chariots. So, 60-70 chariots would be there.
Lighting and decorations would depict the original hues of villge
festivals.
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A. B.
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