Agartala has never witnessed such an open extravaganza before—with about 1.5 lakhs people swarming in the city heart clogging all the roads with unprecedented merriment and joy. They all came from all around to witness the carnival Mayer Gaman – a Durga Pratima immersion procession on Friday night. It was an extravaganza of different kind – a mixture of extreme enthusiasm and mesmerizing display of colours and pomp, glitz and glittering, music and dance, bright attires and radiant faces all around.
The unprecedented spectacle in an illuminated hypnotic ambience where right from Chief Minister and all important VVIPs to the road side beggars -all came to enjoy and cheers.
The Puja days this time went off under heavy rains keeping the people sad and home bound. So on Friday as the day remained clear and bright and there was no forecast of rains, people not only from Agartala but also from other parts of the state also thronged the city to see the carnival organized by the ICA department.
How big was the crowd? Well, according to a conservative estimate from Dashamighat to Kaman Choumuhani the entire city’s heart was clogged by about 1.5 lakhs people. Mind-blowing? Yes, it indeed was.
The participation of such a huge crowd crossed all expectations and many believed, it was the biggest assembly of people in Agartala.
As per the Hindu belief, Maa Durga returned to her divine adobe from earth on a boat – and accordingly, the dignitaries including Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha performed aarti and symbolically ‘sailed the boat’.
Revelers thronged the city roads in rapturous merriment. People crowded the entire stretch from Kaman Chowmuhani to City Centre and Paradise Chowmuhani to Post Choumuhani via RMS Chowmuhani. Police, TSR Jawans, and Civil Defence volunteers had a tough time controlling the swelling crowd. Even revellers with kids on their laps were seen jostling to have a good look at the carnival.
On both sides of the road in front of the City Centre, beautifully decorated and illuminated stages were erected. Intricate paintings on the road and rotating multicolour bulbs added more beauty. Artists from different cultural organizations presented stunning and glittering dance programmes. Dressed in traditional attire artists of different communities presented eye-catching performances and highlighted the richness of cultural traditions.
About 39 clubs took part in the immersion carnival. All the clubs came up with a dazzling display of various themes like Anti-addiction etc. To show unity among diversity, club members wore traditional dresses. Men and women were dancing – many club authorities also presented dance performances including an acrobatic dance before the dignitaries and audience. Disciplined and joyful people clapped for the performances and displays of the club authorities.
The carnival continued till late at night. Laudable performance by police administration along with civil defence volunteers and others ensured trouble-free enjoyment – an exceptional enjoyment indeed.
The carnival was organised at the behest of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department in coordination with the police and civil administration and Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC).
In his inaugural speech, Dr Saha said the government has taken initiative to highlight the traditional culture and customs of the State through the carnival.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma said Durga Puja is a traditional Utsav of the State. This Utsav unites people irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. He prayed to Maa Durga for a prosperous and happy society.
Sushanta Chowdhury, the Information and Cultural Affairs Minister, said Mayer Gamon programme has been organized to give further momentum to the celebrations of the Durgotsav. Chowdhury also said, the carnival aims at encouraging a competitive mentality among the participating clubs amidst celebrations. For this purpose, prizes will be given to the top three clubs – besides, dignitaries handed over certificates to all the participating clubs.
The ICA Minister thanked all the stakeholders including the jury board for conducting such a mega event.
Among others, Agriculture Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder, Judge of High Court of Tripura Justice Arindam Lodh, DIG of Tripura Police Amitabha Ranjan, Asset Manager of ONGC Tarun Malik, Commissioner of AMC Dr Sailesh Yadav were present in the carnival.
Director Ratan Biswas who personally supervised all the activities into a grand success gave vote of thanks.
A panel of judges sitting separately judged the performance, theme, discipline etc to select three clubs for the prizes.
With input from Tripura Times.
