Purulia district, Administrative district in West Bengal, India
Purulia district is an administrative area in the state of West Bengal and consists of several subdivisions marked by hilly terrain, wide forests, and scattered rural settlements. The area borders Jharkhand to the north and Bankura to the south, providing connections between different regions of eastern India.
The area was organized as Jungle Mahals under British rule in 1805 to govern the forested regions west of Calcutta. In 1956, the former Manbhum region was divided, forming the present district, with one part going to Bihar while the western portion remained with West Bengal.
The area is known for its mask dances, where performers in costume retell stories from old epics and pass this art down through generations. On market days, members of different communities gather to sell terracotta figures, handwoven cloth, and baskets made from palm leaves following traditional patterns.
Visitors planning to tour the district should consider the months after the monsoon, when roads are more passable and rivers have settled after the rains. The headquarters offers bus connections in several directions and sits midway between larger towns in Jharkhand and southern West Bengal.
The district lies on the western edge of the Bengali cultural sphere and thus forms a transition zone where linguistic and culinary influences from three neighboring states meet. This location ensures that at local festivals several languages are often heard and dishes appear on the table that combine elements from different kitchens.
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