October 20, 2024 – In a bright celebration that lit up Udaipur, Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha opened the city’s three‑day Diwali festival and festival market, or “mela,” at the historic Mata Tripura Sundari temple. The temple, one of 51 Shakti Peethas that many Hindus honor, sits in the Gomati district in southern Tripura.
Saha, joined by his wife Swapna Saha and several cabinet ministers, began the event with a traditional puja inside the temple’s main hall. “We welcome devotees and wish everyone a joyful Diwali,” he said.
To help thousands of visitors travel to the temple, Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced that the Northeast Frontier Railway will run two special trains for the next three days. The routes – Agartala–Dharmanagar–Agartala and Agartala–Sabroom–Agartala – will run from October 20 to 22 to accommodate the crowd.
The temple has long attracted devotees from across India, and it used to draw hundreds of people from Bangladesh. After political instability in the neighboring country last year, the number of foreign visitors has fallen sharply, officials said.
Security officials said that the police will keep the festival safe. Tripura’s State Rifles and district police, along with the Central Reserve Police Force, will patrol the area. More than 3,000 officers will be on duty, and the temple complex will be monitored by 37 CCTV cameras and 10 watchtowers. “We want to make sure everyone can celebrate without worry,” said Kiran Kumar K, the district superintendent of police.
The day also marked another major highlight: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the redeveloped temple on September 22, praised the state for restoring the 524‑year‑old shrine. The temple’s renovation, part of the Union Tourism Ministry’s PRASHAD scheme, cost about ₹54 crore, with ₹34.43 crore coming from the central government and ₹17.61 crore from Tripura’s own budget.
Built in 1501 by King Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, the temple is the third major Shakti Peeth in eastern India after Kolkata’s Kali temple and Guwahati’s Kamakhya temple. Tripura’s journey into modern India began in 1949 when the former princely state merged with India, ending 517 years of monarchy.
With lights blazing, music playing, and a sense of community in the air, the Diwali mela in Udaipur promises a memorable celebration for locals and visitors alike.
Source: ianslive
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