Assam: Dehing Tea Estate marks 50 years of Tusu Puja, celebrating cultural legacy of tea tribes community

Reaffirming the rich cultural identity and agrarian roots of Assam’s Tea Tribes community, Dehing Tea Estate in Margherita marked the Golden Jubilee of Tusu Puja, commemorating five decades of uninterrupted observance of the sacred festival that symbolises gratitude, harvest prosperity, and community unity.

Tusu Puja, one of the most revered festivals of the Tea Tribes community, is deeply rooted in agricultural tradition. The festival coincides with the post-harvest season, a time when golden grains are harvested from the fields and carefully stored in granaries, marking the culmination of months of labour and hope.

According to community elders and organisers, the puja is observed as an expression of thanksgiving to Mother Tusu, believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva, for protecting crops from pests, insects, and natural adversities. The festival is celebrated with traditional rituals, devotional offerings, folk songs, and vibrant community dances that reflect the cultural soul of the Tea Tribes.

Members of the Tusu Puja Celebration Committee stated that the residents of Dehing Tea Estate have been observing the festival since 1976, making this year’s celebration particularly significant. “For fifty years, the community has come together in faith and unity to observe Tusu Puja, passing the tradition from one generation to the next,” a committee member said.

Observed annually during mid-January, the two-day festival is traditionally held on January 14 and 15, drawing participation from Hindu residents across the tea estate. This year’s Golden Jubilee celebrations were marked by an elaborate and colourful programme, showcasing traditional music, dance performances, and collective rituals that underscored the enduring cultural heritage of the Tea Tribes community.

Community leaders noted that the Golden Jubilee celebration not only honoured religious traditions but also highlighted the socio-cultural resilience of tea garden communities, whose festivals remain a vital expression of identity, harmony, and continuity in the region