Chief Minister kicked off grand ‘Mayer Goman’ festival amidst huge crowd

The great and colourful immersion carnival festival “Mayer Goman” has been kicked off by the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha in presence of a host of dignitaries in front of Maharani Tulsibati School in Agartala on Saturday evening.

The inauguration of the great carnival festival begins with spectacular cultural programmes performed by different groups of artists and after formal inauguration of the event, amidst thousands of devotees the immersion ceremony by different clubs and community Durga Puja organizers of the state capital started from in front of Tulsibati school towards their destination to Dashamighat at the bank of river Howrah.

Cultural, traditional, and diverse customs of various states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat were showcased at the ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival.

The 4th ‘Mayer Gamon carnival’, organized by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, this year witnessed the participation of more than 42 community puja idols including that of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Durga idols.

All Durga and other idols, adorned with colourful decorations and ferried on beautifully decorated trucks and trailers, passed through various parts of the capital city before their immersion in the Howrah (also called Howrah) River at Dashamighat is the capital city.

Various clubs and puja organizers, during their processions with Durga idols, also showcased contemporary themes, including the Armed Forces’ successful ‘Operation Sindoor’, carried out in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) on April 22.

While, in his inaugural address in the gathering, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said that festivals like Durga puja strengthen the mutual bonding of tribal and non-tribal people of the state. He said that irrespective of caste, creed and religion, the people of Tripura unitedly observed the festival of Durga Puja and sought blessings for prosperous society. He added that the united bonding of people seen in the festival, will take positive steps to build ‘Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura.’

Terming the ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival as the biggest cultural event in Tripura, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said the event has become an annual feature in the state’s cultural calendar since 2022.

He said that during the ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival, several cultural troupes showcased the state’s rich and traditional heritage. The BJP government aims to further strengthen and promote the cultural and traditional aspects of the state, said CM Dr Saha, who also holds the Information and Cultural Affairs portfolio.

He added that the five-day-long Durga Puja festival (September 28 to October 2) was celebrated smoothly and peacefully across Tripura, and thanked the police, power, and other departments for their wholehearted efforts in ensuring its success.

 “From the beginning, the first two years were organized in front of the City Centre. Then, from last year, in consultation with everyone, it has been organized in front of Tulsibati School. One of the main objectives of this event is to organize the Puja in an aesthetic, beautiful environment and in an orderly manner. This has been taken as one of the biggest activities in the annual cultural programs of the ICA Department. Today, children from the Jati and Janajati sections have jointly presented beautiful cultural performances here. This will further enrich our traditions and customs. Our government is also working in that direction. The message of harmony will be further strengthened through such arrangements,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that last year, on October 14, it was organized at the same venue.

“After I took charge of the ICA Department, I sat down with other ministers and discussed that during the princely period, a procession was taken from here for the immersion of the idols. Then everyone, including clubs, organizations, and puja organizers, expressed their agreement to determine this place. Therefore, respecting the old tradition, arrangements have been made for the Mother’s visit from this place,” said Dr Saha.

Dr Saha also said that this auspicious Bijoya or Dussehra is not limited to Hinduism only; its acceptance has increased a lot and is being appreciated all over the world.

“Whether it is Durga Puja or Mayer Gaman, the state government wants the development of art, culture, and literature, and its practice to grow further in Tripura. Keeping that in mind, initiatives have been taken to strengthen such an environment. This time too, I have participated in the Pujas organized by the Janajatis in various parts of the state on the occasion of Puja. Durga Pujas have been organized in tribal areas for many years. There is excitement and enthusiasm among the Janajatis surrounding Durga Puja which could not be witnessed before. This is developing our socio-economic condition. Like last year, this year too, Durga Puja was completed peacefully and beautifully without any incident,” he added.

Information and Cultural Affairs Department’s Secretary Dr Pradeep Kumar Chakravarty said that three best clubs and puja organisers participating in the ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival will be awarded at a ceremony.

He said that the state government will also organise another annual event -- 'Sarad Samman' soon during which as many as 43 clubs across the state will be awarded for organising Durga Puja successfully highlighting contemporary, traditional and historical traditions.

Thousands of people attended the colorful event and enjoyed the evening with their family members as the sky was clear unlike the puja days which were partially marred due to intermittent rains.

This year, according to Tripura police chief Anurag, in the state, around 2,983 community pujas, up from 2,750 in 2024, were organised.

Among the state's eight districts, in West Tripura district, 775 community pujas were organised this year. Besides the community pujas, a large number of Durga Pujas were held in the homes and premises of affluent families.

Additional 8,000 police and other forces personnel were deployed in all the eight districts of the state to ensure the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja.

Over 400 women police personnel and a large number of plainclothes security personnel also assisted other security agencies in ensuring the festivities remain incident-free and peaceful.

DGP Anurag said that a large number of CCTV cameras and watchtowers have been installed at important, sensitive, mixed-populated, crowded locations and big-budget pujas to manage the pandal hoppers and other crowds.

Vigilance along the India-Bangladesh borders and also with Assam and Tripura was tightened, and the state authorities had asked the BSF to maintain a strict vigil along the international border to foil any infiltration attempt and cross-border movement of inimical elements, he added.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy, Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman, Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, DGP Anurag, ICA Secretary Dr. P.K. Chakraborty, Director Bimbisar Bhattacharya, and other public representatives, officials, and prominent citizens of the society were present as distinguished guests at the event.