Agartala hosted the spectacular Mayer Gaman 2026 carnival, showcasing Tripura’s royal heritage, cultural diversity and communal harmony. Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the grand Durga idol immersion procession, attended by foreign diplomats, as thousands celebrated the state’s vibrant traditions.
Agartala came alive on Friday evening as thousands of people thronged the streets to witness the spectacular ‘Mayer Gaman 2026’ carnival, a magnificent celebration of devotion, artistic creativity and community spirit that transformed the state capital into a vibrant spectacle of lights, colours and festivities.
With enthusiastic crowds lining both sides of the streets, the grand Durga idol immersion procession presented a dazzling display of Tripura’s rich cultural heritage, artistic excellence and the collective festive spirit of its people. The carnival, inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha in the presence of foreign diplomats, state cabinet ministers and other dignitaries, brought together tradition and modern creativity in a celebration that reflected the state’s distinctive cultural identity.
Inaugurating the colourful carnival in front of Maharani Tulsibati Higher Secondary Girls’ School, the Chief Minister said that ‘Mayer Gaman’ had evolved beyond a traditional Durga idol immersion procession into a grand celebration of Tripura’s royal heritage, cultural diversity, communal harmony and collective social consciousness.
“The Mayer Gaman carnival is not merely an idol immersion procession. It is a unique expression of Tripura’s royal legacy, cultural diversity, harmony and collective social consciousness,” Saha said.
Recalling the historical significance of the venue, the Chief Minister said idol immersion processions had traditionally started from the area in front of Maharani Tulsibati Girls’ School since the days of the erstwhile royal rulers of Tripura.
“Those days may not have had modern illumination or sophisticated sound systems, but the enthusiasm, devotion and spontaneous participation of the people were equally vibrant. Today, we have successfully blended that traditional spirit with modern arrangements and creativity,” he said.
Saha said the carnival, introduced in its present form only a few years ago, had already established itself as one of the state’s most attractive annual cultural events.
Highlighting the inclusive character of Durga Puja, the Chief Minister said the festival was no longer confined to religious observances but had acquired a universal appeal transcending geographical and community boundaries.
He said the growing participation of people from different communities, including indigenous and non-indigenous populations, reflected Tripura’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.
“People from all communities are participating shoulder to shoulder in the celebrations. This spirit of unity and mutual respect must be strengthened further to realise the vision of ‘Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura’,” he said.
One of the major highlights of this year’s carnival was the participation of foreign diplomatic representatives, who arrived in Agartala to witness the spectacular immersion procession.
According to the Chief Minister, this was the first time that senior diplomatic representatives from different countries had attended the carnival.
He expressed hope that the visiting diplomats would gain firsthand experience of Tripura’s natural beauty, cultural richness and hospitality and help project a positive image of the state internationally.
Their presence, he said, could also open new avenues for promoting Tripura’s art, culture, tourism and investment opportunities abroad.
Referring to the recent business summit held at Hapania, Saha said Tripura was witnessing growing interest from prospective investors in the industrial and tourism sectors.
He said around 10 foreign investors had expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in the state.
“Cultural events of this magnitude not only strengthen our identity but also create opportunities for tourism development, investment and socio-economic growth,” he observed.
The Chief Minister also claimed that Tripura had witnessed significant improvement in its law-and-order situation since 2018, creating an atmosphere of peace, stability and public confidence.
He said the increasing number of Durga Pujas, growing public enthusiasm and widespread participation in festivities reflected positive changes in the state’s social and economic life.
Saha emphasised that the government was committed to capitalising on the state’s peaceful environment and cultural diversity to accelerate development.
Elaborating on the carnival arrangements, he said the decorated Durga idols would proceed from Maharani Tulsibati Higher Secondary Girls’ School through Jackson Gate, Post Office Chowmuhani, Paradise Chowmuhani and Battala before reaching Dashamighat for immersion.
The entire programme was being telecast live to enable people across Tripura and other parts of the country to witness the celebrations.
The Chief Minister appreciated the coordinated efforts of the state administration, Agartala Municipal Corporation, police, security agencies, Information and Cultural Affairs Department, disaster management teams and other organisations in ensuring the smooth conduct of Durga Puja and the carnival.
He called for further expansion of such cultural initiatives while preserving the state’s historical traditions and urged people to work collectively towards the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Chief Minister’s Secretary and Information and Cultural Affairs Secretary Kiran Gitte said Mayer Gaman had become an important symbol of Tripura’s cultural identity.
He said the carnival not only highlighted the state’s rich traditions and cultural integration between indigenous and non-indigenous communities but also provided a platform for local artists, artisans and cultural performers to showcase their creativity.
Gitte said more than two lakh people had participated in the carnival physically, while over 10 lakh viewers had joined the celebrations through digital platforms.
He said the overwhelming response demonstrated the growing popularity of the event and the government’s efforts to develop it into a nationally and internationally recognised cultural attraction.
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The administration, he added, would continue working to promote Mayer Gaman on a larger scale and position Tripura as an attractive tourism destination.
Among the distinguished guests attending the programme were Russian Consul General in Kolkata Maxim Kozlov, Senior Adviser to the US Ambassador to India Brad Kroeger, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Hasan Al Bashar Abdul Ulaye, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting K. K. Nirala and Vice-Chancellor of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Santosh Ajmera.
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Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy, Cooperation Minister Shukla Charan Noatia, Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha, acting Director General of Police G. S. Rao, Information and Cultural Affairs Director Bimbisar Bhattacharjee and State-Level Cultural Advisory Committee Vice-Chairman Subrata Chakraborty were also present.
Senior government officials, public representatives and members of various clubs and cultural organisations attended the inaugural ceremony, which marked another colourful chapter in Tripura’s traditional Durga Puja celebrations.
