AARAartala, 4 October (IANS) After the five-day Durga Puja Festival, a series of eyes captured and colorful cultural demonstrations marked the grand ‘Mayor Gaman’ carnival here on Saturday, formally brought down the curtain of Hindus and other communities.
Cultural, traditional and diverse customs of various states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat were shown at the ‘Mayor Gaman’ Carnival.
The participation of more than 42 community worship idols, including the 4th ‘Mayor Gaman Carnival’ organized by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, this year, Atalla Municipal Corporation (AMC) Durga Idol, was observed.
All Durga and other sculptures, adorned with colorful decoration and beautifully decorated on trucks and trailers, pass through various parts of the city, which is the capital in the river Dasmighat before their immersion in Howrah (also known as Hora).
Various clubs and puja organizers also displayed contemporary topics during their processions with Durga Idol, including successful ‘Operation Sindoor’ of the Armed Forces, on 22 April, for a terrorist attack in Pahgam (Jammu and Kashmir).
Describing the ‘Mayor Gaman’ Carnival as the biggest cultural program in Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the event has become an annual feature in the state’s cultural calendar since 2022.
He said that during the ‘Mayor Gaman’ Carnival, many cultural circles demonstrated the rich and traditional heritage of the state. The BJP government aims to further strengthen and promote the cultural and traditional aspects of the state, CM Saha said, which also keeps the portfolio of information and cultural affairs.
He said that the five -day Durga Puja Festival (28 September to 2 October) was celebrated smoothly and peacefully in Tripura, and thanked the police, power and other departments for their entire efforts to ensure their success.
Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty, Secretary, Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, said that three best clubs and puja organizers participating in the ‘Mayor Gaman’ Carnival will be honored at a function.
He said that the state government will also organize another annual program – ‘Sarad Samman’ soon, during which 43 clubs across the state will be honored to successfully highlight Durga Puja.
Hundreds of people participated in a colorful incident and enjoyed the evening with their family members because the sky was clear opposite the days of worship which was partially killed due to rain.
This year, according to Tripura Police Chief Anurag in the state, about 3,000 community priests were held in 2024 to 2,750.
In eight districts of the state in West Tripura district, 775 community priests were organized this year. In addition to the community Pujas, a large number of Durga Pujas were held in the houses and campuses of the affluent families.
Additional 8,000 police and other force personnel were deployed in all eight districts of the state to ensure the peaceful festival of Durga Puja.
More than 400 women police personnel and a large number of Plancloth security personnel also assisted other security agencies to ensure that they were festive and peaceful.
DGP Anurag said that a large number of CCTV cameras and watchmen have been installed in important, sensitive, mixed, crowded places and large-budget Pujas to manage pandal hoppers and other crowds.
He said that with the boundaries of India-Bengladesh and vigilance with Assam and Tripura was tightened, and state officials had asked the BSF to maintain a strict vigilance with the international border to thwart any infiltration efforts and the cross-limit movement of unqualified elements.
,
SC/PGH