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Jhumur

The Jhumur folk song is an ancient musical form that belongs to the red-soiled regions on the western frontiers of West Bengal -  Purulia, Bankura, Bardhaman, Birbhum and West Medinipur as well as the state of Jharkhand and parts of Odisha.  Jhumur has been a way of life for communities like the Kurmi-Mahatos, Kumhaar, Rajwar, Ghatoal, Hari, Muchi, Dom etc and tribals like the Bhumij,  Oraon and Munda for centuries.  Since the migration of tribals to the tea gardens, Jhumur can be heard in North Bengal and Assam as well. The Santals do not sing Jhumur.  Known for its lyrical and literary significance, linguistically, these songs are a mix of Oriya, Bengali, and other local dialects like Kurmali, Panchpargania and Nagpuria, due to the contiguity of the states where these languages are spoken and the widespread settlements of the aforementioned tribes in these areas.

There are many theories on the origin of the word Jhumur – probably as many stories as there are experts.  In the words of a Jhumur composer this music “is neither new nor old, it is like a forest tree with roots deeply buried in the past but which continuously puts forth new branches, new leaves,  new fruits.”