Songs, dances, prayers mark end of Tusu harvest festival in Jharkhand

People in Ranchi District revelled in festivities and sang traditional songs, marking the end of the Tusu harvest festival over the weekend.

Soaked in religious and cultural fervour, unmarried girls carry temple-like structures, 'Tusu', in traditional attires, which are later submerged in water after offering prayers.

The fortnight-long 'Tusu' festival starts from January 15 every year, the next day of harvest festival of 'Makar Sankranti' that is celebrated on January 14.

Locals were seen dancing to drumbeats on the streets and many were seen depicting mythological characters.

People expressed their happiness and sought god's blessings for prosperity.

"Our celebrations for 'Tusu' start after 'Makar Sankranti'. We consider this as one of our major festivals. This is our tradition, we celebrate this every year," said a resident, Gopi.

'Pitha', or pancake, is an integral part of the festival and every family prepares its own delicacy.

'Tusu' is similar to harvest festivals, which take place in other parts of the country, and is celebrated by preparing food from newly harvested crops.

'Tusu' is stated to be symbolic emblem of goddess 'Tusu Devi', made of cardboard and decorated with colourful paper and female dolls, some reaching a height of even ten feet. This is prepared by group of chaste unmarried teenage girls a week before the actual festival and kept at the village for everyone to admire.