Agartala, October 21: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday said this year’s Durga Puja celebrations reflected a strong spirit of unity, brotherhood and collective participation across the state, as he thanked the people and various departments for ensuring peaceful festivities.
Speaking at Dashami Ghat in Agartala in the presence of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, the Chief Minister said the growing number of community and household Pujas demonstrated the enthusiasm with which people had embraced the festival.
“We witnessed a wonderful sense of unity and brotherhood during this year’s Puja. The number of Puja celebrations has increased significantly, not only at community level but also in private residences. This reflects the vision of building a ‘New Tripura’ that we have been talking about,” Saha said.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the police, AMC and other government departments for their coordinated efforts in maintaining order and facilitating the celebrations. He also appreciated the cooperation extended by various community organisations in ensuring that the festivities remained peaceful.
Praising the arrangements at Dashami Ghat, Saha said the civic body had transformed the immersion site into an aesthetically pleasing venue. He said the arrangements had added to the festive atmosphere on the occasion of Bijoya Dashami.
Extending his greetings to the people of Tripura, the Chief Minister said the state had been immersed in a festive mood, with similar processions and immersion-related celebrations being organised in several subdivisions.
Saha also expressed confidence that the annual ‘Mayar Gaman’ carnival, scheduled for October 23, would be a success. He said the event would be particularly special this year, with foreign delegates expected to attend. Preparations, including accommodation arrangements, had been completed, he added.
Reflecting on the emotional moment of bidding farewell to Goddess Durga, the Chief Minister acknowledged that devotees, particularly children, often felt sad when the festivities came to an end.
“We all enjoyed these four days, and it is natural to feel sad when the Mother departs. We pray to the Goddess to visit us every year and continue to bless us. Carrying those blessings, we will continue our work and look forward to her return,” he said.
Responding to a question about coping with the emotions associated with the Goddess’s departure, Saha said such experiences were part of a continuing cycle, through which each generation developed its own memories and attachments to the festival.
Emphasising the importance of public service, he said, “Ultimately, the most important thing is serving the people, because in serving humanity, one finds the Divine.”
The Chief Minister also urged people to address differences of opinion through dialogue and democratic processes, stressing the need to maintain a positive and healthy social environment after the celebrations.