Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: The Brihad Jharkhand Kala Sanskriti Manch organized an exuberant Dahre Tusu festival in Mango, attracting thousands of people from the Kudmi community who participated with great enthusiasm. The event commenced at around 1:00 pm from Dimna Chowk and took a 3.5-hour journey, reaching the Sakchi Mango Garden Ground.
The festival saw a vibrant display of traditional Tusu dance, with 14 dance groups, including participants from Bengal and Odisha. Women played a central role in the festivities, contributing to the spirit of the event.
Deepak Ranjit, a prominent member of the forum, highlighted the primary goal of the event: to secure recognition for the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. “This is the main objective of our event this year. We demand that Kurmali, which is an integral part of our culture, be officially recognized,” Ranjit stated.
He also emphasized the economic and cultural importance of the Tusu festival. “During this time, there is no work in Jharkhand. Therefore, we demand that the Jharkhand government declare a week-long holiday in honour of Tusu,” he said.
Ranjit expressed the community’s disappointment with the lack of attention to their language and culture, despite their significant contribution to the creation of the state of Jharkhand. “The Kudmi community and its leaders played a crucial role in the formation of Jharkhand. Yet, today, we feel that our language and culture are not being valued enough,” he added.
The event, though a massive cultural celebration, also served as a platform for political and social demands, signalling the need for greater recognition and respect for the Kudmi community’s heritage and rights.
Jamshedpur: A massive Dahre Tusu Yatra took place in the city under the banner of Chotanagpur Kudmi Kala Sanskriti Manch, carrying forward a tradition from last year. The procession, which started from the Samadhi Sthal of former MP Shaheed Sunil Mahato in Chhota Gamharia, made its way to the Sakchi Aambagan Ground, covering a distance of 16 kilometers. The yatra was led by Shaheed Sunil Mahato’s mother, Khado Devi, and began at 9:00 am on Sunday morning.
Thousands of men and women participated, dressed in traditional costumes and playing musical instruments such as Chodal, Dhol-Nagara, and even a DJ. The atmosphere was lively and celebratory, with the participants dancing to the beat of the drums.
On the occasion, Anup Kumar Mahato, founder and president of Chhotanagpur Kudmi Kala Sanskriti Manch, spoke about the cultural heritage of the Chhotanagpur plateau, emphasizing that these traditions are at risk of extinction in urban areas. “Our cultural festivals, once thriving in Chhotanagpur, are now on the verge of disappearing. Through this Dahre Tusu Yatra, we are calling on the central and state governments for several key demands,” Mahato said.
These demands include conducting an NIA-CBI inquiry into the murders of martyrs Sunil Mahato and Nirmal Mahato, seeking recognition of the Kudmi community as a full Scheduled Tribe (ST), and the inclusion of the Kudmali language in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution. The event also highlighted the need for safeguarding the distinct culture of Chhotanagpur.
Mahato confirmed that the Dahre Tusu Yatra will continue as an annual event, set to take place on the first Sunday of every year. The next one is scheduled for January 4, 2026, where, like this year, the Kudmi community will celebrate and demand the preservation of their cultural heritage.
