The cyclonic storm “SITRANG” dampen the festival spirit on first day of Diwali festival and fair at Mata Tripura Sundari temple complex, , but with improved weather conditions, the second day of fair (Mela) since Tuesday morning witnessing massive crowd and cheerful celebration of festival

Agartala , October 26, 2022: The cyclonic storm “SITRANG” dampen the festival spirit on first day of Diwali festival and fair at Mata Tripura Sundari temple complex, , but with improved weather conditions, the second day of fair (Mela) since Tuesday morning witnessing massive crowd and cheerful celebration of festival.

After the devastating storm, which has weaken in Bangladesh entered into Tripura, disturbed the normal life and the festivities, the fair committee of Tripura Sundari temple has decided to extend the fair for one more day and government will resume the special train services from Dharmanagar and Sabroom connecting the temple town Udaipur.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Udaipur Mela committee chairman and local MLA Biplab Kumar Ghosh said that the closing ceremony of the fair will be held on Wednesday evening and cultural programmes organized by the state government’s departments will continue up to 9 PM.

He said that the fair committee has requested all shop owners and traders, who were given stalls in the fair complex, have been requested to withdraw their makeshift stalls on Thursday morning.

Ghosh said that all debris including mud were removed by the fair committee on Tuesday morning for smooth passage of all devotees and initiated some renovation works for illumination.

It may be recalled here that on Monday evening after incessant rains and heavy winds due to cyclonic storm “SITRANG”, hundreds of devotees gathered in a temple complex sheltered at Matabari block office. During Monday night's storm, all the illuminations decorated in different roads connecting the Matabari collapsed and many were also uprooted due to the storm.

Altogether 658 stalls and shops were set up in the fair complex, but many of them have already withdrawn their shops on Monday night and they have suffered huge losses due to the storm.

On Monday evening, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha through a brief programme inaugurated the Diwali festival at Mata Bari and highlighted the temple developmental initiative through ‘Prasad’ scheme and added that entire construction in the temple complex will be completed by next year. Dr Saha said after completion of all ongoing construction works, Mata Bari temple will be a most attractive destination for devotees.

After inauguration, the Chief Minister along with his wife also offered prayer and participated in the ‘Mangal Arati’.

During the inauguration of the festival, Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) Minister Sushanta Chwodhury, Tourism Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Tribal Welfare Minister Rampada Jamatia, local Biplab Kumar Ghosh were also present.