Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday highlighted how the 2024 “Mayer Gomon” Durga Puja carnival revisited the rich history of the state. Speaking at the inaugural session of the cultural celebration to bid farewell to Devi Durga, Dr. Saha said, “Mayer Gomon 2024 has reached new heights.
Previously held in front of Agartala’s City Centre, this year we managed to bring it to the royal palace (now the state museum). Historically, during the royal era, all Durga idols were first brought to the royal palace before being taken to the riverbanks for immersion. Even after Tripura’s merger with India, this practice continued for some time.”
According to the Chief Minister, the current government has been reviving this carnival tradition for the past three years. “In a pre-Durga Puja meeting, I proposed reviving our cultural traditions and relocating the main event to its historical roots. I am pleased that the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, along with the Agartala Municipal Corporation, organised such a grand celebration,” he added.
Dr. Saha also praised the Agartala Municipal Corporation for its efforts in renovating the immersion ghat. “The corporation has done an excellent job, ensuring the safety of devotees by installing cranes and advanced machinery. Previously, immersion was a challenging task for Puja organizers, but now, with the government’s support, things have become much smoother. This is why the carnival invitation has received such a positive response from organizers,” he said.
In his welcome speech, Dr. Pradip Kumar Chakraborty, Secretary of the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, recalled that the “Mayer Gomon” event was first launched in 2022. He also announced that 45 clubs from Agartala city were participating this year. The top three clubs will receive cash prizes, with the winner taking home Rs 50,000, while the first and second runners-up will receive Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively.
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The Mayer Gomon carnival features a procession of Durga idols, with community clubs creating themed tableaux to escort the idols to the immersion site.
The event was also attended by Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, and Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder, among others.
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