Tripura CM Manik Saha inaugurates a 3-day Diwali festival and mela at the 524-year-old Tripura Sundari temple in Udaipur. Special trains, massive security, and cultural events mark the celebration at one of India’s 51 Shakti Peethas.
The 524-year-old Mata Tripura Sundari temple, one of India’s most revered Shakti Peethas, has come alive with spiritual fervour and festive grandeur as Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday inaugurated the three-day Diwali festival and mela in Udaipur, Gomati district.
Accompanied by his wife, Swapna Saha, and several Cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister offered prayers at the temple before officially opening the much-awaited festival. The ancient shrine, dedicated to Goddess Tripura Sundari, holds deep cultural and religious significance, drawing thousands of devotees from across India every year during Diwali.
“Tripura Sundari temple is not only a spiritual center but also a symbol of our state’s rich heritage,” CM Saha said while inaugurating the mela. “This festival brings together devotion, culture, and tourism, strengthening our identity as a land of divine tradition.”
Special Trains for Devotees
Given the expected surge in devotees, Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced that the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has arranged two special trains — Agartala–Dharmanagar–Agartala and Agartala–Sabroom–Agartala — to operate from October 20 to 22. These trains will help manage the heavy influx of pilgrims visiting Udaipur during the three-day festivities.
Every year, thousands of devotees throng the temple premises during the Diwali mela. In previous years, hundreds of pilgrims from Bangladesh also participated in the celebrations. However, officials said participation from the neighboring country has dropped significantly due to recent political instability in Bangladesh.
Tight Security Arrangements
To ensure safety and maintain law and order, Gomati district Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Kumar K confirmed that a three-layered security system has been put in place around the temple complex.
Over 3,000 security personnel, including members of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR), have been deployed. Additionally, 37 CCTV cameras and 10 watchtowers have been installed for round-the-clock surveillance.
“Security has been strengthened with district police, CRPF forces, and trained volunteers to handle the large number of devotees,” SP Kiran Kumar said. “We are also conducting regular vehicle checks and intensified night patrolling to prevent any untoward incidents.”
Hundreds of volunteers, including students and social workers, have joined hands with the administration to assist devotees and ensure smooth crowd management during the festival.
A Temple of Historical and Spiritual Legacy
The Tripura Sundari temple, built in 1501 AD by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, is considered one of the 51 Shakti Peethas across India and the third most sacred in eastern India after Kolkata’s Kalighat and Guwahati’s Kamakhya temples. The temple is often referred to as “Tripureshwari Mandir”, and its presiding deity, Goddess Tripura Sundari, is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati.
The site has deep historical significance. After 517 years of monarchy, Tripura merged with the Indian Union on October 15, 1949, through an agreement signed between Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi, the then regent queen, and the Governor-General of India.
Redevelopment Under PRASHAD Scheme
The temple recently underwent a massive redevelopment project under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism.
The redevelopment cost over ₹54 crore, with the Central government contributing ₹34.43 crore and the Tripura government adding ₹17.61 crore. The renovated complex includes improved pilgrim facilities, enhanced sanitation, parking areas, and modern amenities while preserving the temple’s ancient architectural essence.
On September 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the redeveloped temple and offered prayers at the adjoining Kali temple, fulfilling a long-standing public demand to modernize one of Tripura’s most important pilgrimage sites.
Boost to Religious Tourism
Officials from the Tourism Department believe that the grand celebration and the temple’s new infrastructure will attract more pilgrims and boost religious tourism in Tripura. “The redevelopment of the Tripura Sundari temple will put Udaipur firmly on India’s spiritual tourism map,” said a senior tourism official.
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With traditional lights, devotional music, cultural performances, and hundreds of stalls selling local handicrafts and sweets, the three-day mela is expected to offer a vibrant glimpse of Tripura’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
As lamps light up the ancient temple’s courtyards and chants echo through the sacred hills of Udaipur, the Diwali festival at the Tripura Sundari temple stands as a living testimony to Tripura’s timeless devotion and cultural unity.
