Puja linked to royal dynasty remains a hit in Tripura
Times of India | 3 October 2022
AGARTALA: The over 500 years old Durga Puja, initiated by the then royal dynasty and sponsored by the Tripura government for the past over seven decades, continues to draw devotees from different parts of India and the neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh.
Tripura, governed by the Left and non-Left parties since it merged with the Indian union 73 years ago, is possibly the only state in India where the government continues to sponsor an over five century-old Durga Puja, that is also closely overseen by the erstwhile royal family.
With ‘Maha Sasthi’ or ‘Bodhan’ —- the welcoming of the Durga idols — the Puja began on Saturday at the famed Durgabari temple, located in front of the 121-year-old Ujjayanta Palace, one of the biggest royal mansions in eastern India. Jayanta Bhattacharjee (57), the head priest of Durgabari temple, said a few years after the beginning of the royal era in Tripura, the kings started Durga Puja over 500 years ago.
“The capital of the princely dynasty along with the royal temple moved to three different places — Udaipur, Amarpur and Puran Habeli before the state headquarters and the capital city along with the Durgabari temple was settled in Agartala 184 years ago in 1838,” Bhattacharjee said.