Durga Puja idol immersion carnival ends peacefully amid tight security in Tripura

The Information and Cultural Affairs Department organised the fourth carnival, where over 42 community Durga Puja idols, including those from the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), participated.

During the carnival, different puja clubs and puja organisers showcased different contemporary themes, including Operation Sindoor, which was carried out by the Indian armed forces in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. A special tribute was also paid to the late music maestro Zubeen Garg of Assam.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, while attending the carnival that began at the Maharani Tulsibati Girls Higher Secondary School ground in Agartala, stated that the state government’s goal is to strengthen and promote traditional cultural aspects.

“People from different parts of the world can witness the culture and traditions of Tripura in this carnival,” he said.

CM Saha stated that Durga Puja was celebrated peacefully throughout the state and expressed gratitude to various departments, including the police and power, for contributing to the festival’s success.

Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty, the Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, announced that the state government will organise “Sarad Samman,” an annual event honouring nearly 43 puja clubs across the state. These clubs will be recognised for their successful organisation of Durga Puja, which highlights traditional, contemporary, and historic practices.

“Three puja clubs and organisers who participated in the ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival will be awarded during an event soon,” said the official.

This year, a total of 2,893 Durga Pujas were conducted, of which 2,729 idols were immersed by 8 pm Saturday, according to the police.

Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhyankar had earlier stated that over 7,700 police and traffic personnel have been deployed, in addition to the regular district police force, across the state. The figure was 6,000 last year.

Joint patrolling was also conducted with the Border Security Force (BSF) in selected vulnerable areas along the India-Bangladesh border, in line with instructions to prevent illegal immigration.

Security arrangements were made across the state, including fixed pickets, foot patrols, mobile patrols, and CCTV surveillance, ahead of the Durga Puja festivities to maintain law and order. A total of 300 CCTV cameras were used in addition to those already in service. This was an increase from last year’s deployment of 216 additional CCTV cameras.