Matabari Diwali Festival 2026 begins November 8 at Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, with nearly 10 lakh devotees expected over three days. The Gomati administration has arranged extensive security, cultural programmes, religious rituals and public facilities for visitors.
Preparations are complete for the three-day Matabari Diwali Festival and Mela 2026 at the historic Shree Shree Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Gomati district, with nearly 10 lakh devotees expected to visit the religious gathering between November 8 and November 10. The district administration and police have put extensive arrangements in place to ensure smooth crowd management, security and public convenience during the festival.
Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha will inaugurate the festival on Sunday evening, Diwali Festival and Mela Committee chairman and MLA Abhishek Debroy announced at a press conference on Saturday. Before the formal inauguration, the Chief Minister is scheduled to participate in the traditional Kalyan Arati on the banks of Kalyan Sagar.
The Matabari Diwali Festival is regarded as one of the major religious gatherings in the North-East, attracting devotees from different parts of Tripura and neighbouring states. The festival is organised around the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple, which is recognised as one of India’s 51 Shakti Peethas and holds immense religious and cultural significance.
According to information released by the Gomati district administration, this year’s mela will feature 591 commercial shops and stalls, along with 21 government exhibition stalls. The event will also showcase a wide range of cultural activities involving artists from different parts of the country.
MLA Abhishek Debroy said more than 2,000 artists from Tripura and outside the state would participate in cultural programmes throughout the three-day celebration. The performances will include dance dramas, Baul music, traditional folk presentations and other cultural attractions.
A special drone show has been planned for the inaugural evening. Visitors will also find thematic exhibition stalls highlighting Tripura’s heritage, indigenous cuisine and cultural traditions. A dedicated entertainment corner for children and families has been arranged as an additional attraction. A sand sculpture depicting the famous temple standing on a tortoise has also been created as part of the festival decorations.
Religious programmes will remain a major attraction throughout the celebration. A Maha Yajna and recitation of the Tripura Sundari Stotram will be organised as part of the devotional activities. Priests and scholars arriving from Kashi will conduct a special Mangal Arati, while devotional singer Nirupama Roy will present a musical programme on the inaugural evening.
One of the significant highlights will be the traditional Arati at Kalyan Sagar, featuring 25 drummers and approximately 2,000 to 3,000 earthen lamps. The ritual is expected to create a spiritually significant atmosphere for devotees attending the festival.
The temple has been decorated with fresh flowers, while extensive illumination arrangements have been made throughout the mela premises and surrounding areas. According to Debroy, decorative lighting will also extend along the route leading towards Subhash Setu in Udaipur, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Considering the expected gathering of nearly 10 lakh visitors, the administration has prepared detailed crowd-management and security arrangements. Around 800 volunteers will be deployed to assist devotees, guide visitors and regulate movement within the temple premises. Separate entry and exit routes have been designated to prevent congestion and ensure the orderly movement of pilgrims.
Personnel from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR), state police and Quick Response Teams will be deployed at strategic locations. Police watchtowers, command posts and assistance booths will be established at important points to monitor the situation and respond quickly to emergencies.
Gomati Superintendent of Police Anirban Das said precautionary measures had been taken to prevent any untoward incidents during the celebrations. CCTV cameras will monitor important locations round the clock, while security personnel will remain alert throughout the festival.
The district administration has also prioritised healthcare and essential public facilities. A dedicated medical unit and three ambulances will remain available to handle medical emergencies. Drinking water facilities, sanitation arrangements and public toilets have also been organised for the convenience of devotees and other visitors.
The Matabari festival has become an important platform for bringing together religious traditions, cultural heritage, tourism and community participation. The large-scale gathering is also expected to provide business opportunities for local traders, artisans and cultural performers.
It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly constructed Mata Tripura Sundari Temple complex and several development projects on September 22, 2025, further highlighting the importance of the historic pilgrimage destination.
Debroy said the festival would offer devotees and visitors a combination of religious traditions, cultural performances and modern attractions. The Gomati district administration has coordinated with various government departments to ensure that the celebrations are conducted peacefully and without inconvenience to the public.
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Gomati Zilla Parishad Chairperson Debal Debroy, Matarbari Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Shilpi Das, District Magistrate Rinku Lather and officials from different departments were also present at the press conference.
With elaborate religious programmes, cultural performances, decorative lighting and extensive security arrangements, the three-day Matabari Diwali Festival 2026 is expected to attract a massive gathering of devotees and visitors to Udaipur, reinforcing Tripura’s position as an important religious and cultural tourism destination in the North-East.
