Ranchi, Jan. 15: This Tusu, the madal beats softly. The height of chaurals, bamboo structures worshipped as symbols of prosperity, is short.
Tusu, mostly celebrated in Chotanagpur and Kolhan regions by tribal and non-tribal agrarian community after paddy harvest from January 14 (Makar Sankranti) to January 25, is low in spirits this year, as farmers are short of cash.
In the wake of cash crunch after demonetisation, farmers sold paddy and vegetables at abysmally low rates. Now, they don't have purchasing power to celebrate Tusu in style.
Farmers sold tomatoes for Rs 2-3 per kilo and paddy for Rs 10-11 per kilo at rural haats.
Budhan Singh Munda, mukhiya of Tamar in Ranchi district, which falls in south Chotanagpur region, said as much. "There was surplus production. But, farmers had to sell their produce for peanuts as no one was ready to pay the minimum support price. Where's the money to celebrate the festival lavishly? Only bare minimum rituals are being followed," he said.
A schoolteacher of Tamar, Ajay Kumar, said for residents it spelt some cheer as paddy and vegetables cost less in the ripple effect of demonetisation. "But, farmers are suffering, as low-key Tusu celebrations point out," he said.
Tusu-related businesses are also suffering.
Govardhan Munda, who specialises in making chaurals, did brisk business till last year, selling around 50 bamboo structures. This year, he sold 10. "Budgets are less," he rued.
The price of chaurals start from Rs 500 and can go up to Rs 10,000 depending on height and decorations as they appear in various rural competitions, he said. "But this year, buyers looked for shorter and less gaudy chaurals," he said.
People are also cutting down on jaggery, a traditional sweetener for Tusu delicacies like pitha. Jaggery comes for Rs 35 to Rs 40 a kilo.
Jaggery seller Gautam Haldar said he lost around 50 per cent business this year. "In other years, we used to sell truckloads of jaggery during December-January. This year, our sale is almost half," he said.
Tusu is an integral part of Chotanagpur and Kolhan districts, Ranchi, Khunti, Seraikela-Kharsawan, twin Singhbhums, among others. Festivities start with the ritual bath in rivers on Makar Sankranti.
