By: Debraj Deb (Bureau Chief-ICN Tripura)
AGARTALA: Durga Puja, biggest festival and religious event of Bengalees ended peacefully in Tripura with ostensibly long queues of devotees and pandal hpppers seen every single day.
According to the Police, Durga Puja was organized at 2436 pandals across Tripura this year. These include 954 Durga puja organizing clubs and individual puja organizers in urban areas and 1482 in rural areas. Durga Puja was held in 482 pandals in Agartala and its suburbs alone.
According to officials in the Agartala Municipal Corporation, nearly 1600 idols of Goddess Durga were immersed on Saturdayand Sunday. The police and civil administration had ordered each and every puja organizer to complete the immersion process within October the next 3 days.
As previously warned by Meteorological Department, occasional bouts of heavy showers, thunder storms marked all four days of Durga Puja – Maha Sapatami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami this year.
However, spirit of Durga Puja pandal hoppers were not dampened. Puja organizers and the state police had arranged for temporary sheds in periodic distances. There were provisions of vehicles on rent, though restrictions on private vehicle movement were imposed from evening on the Puja days.
“We have been using restriction in vehicle movement for several years in Agartala. This helps us to control the excessive traffic of pandal hoppers that come from all districts; more now – all thanks to the train service”, an official of the state police said.
The official added that there were no reports of untoward incidents during the Puja days. Two accidental deaths were reported.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Sadar sub-division Samit Roy Chowdhury and Superintendent of Police of West Tripura district Abhijeet Saptarshi requested Durga Puja organizers to postpone immersion rallies on Sunday afternoon till 6.30 pm in order to ensure safe and trouble-free passage of Muharrum participants.
Unlike West Bengal that drew attention over its bid to prioritize Muharram over Durga idol immersion, Tripura’s unique way of dealing with devotees from all religious sects and communities have garnered accolades from all quarters.
Over 4500 police personnel and equal number of personnel from Tripura State Rifles – Tripura’s own armed police paratroopers were deployed to maintain law and order. 142 Police Assistance booths were used in the process including 24 police assistance booths exclusively for Agartala city. Nearly 80 watch towers were erected in all critical locations including 12 at Agartala.
