Udaipur 31 Oct, 2024: Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha inaugurated the three-day Diwali Festival at the revered Tripurasundari Temple this evening, highlighting the government’s commitment to enhancing religious tourism in the state. The event, which draws worshippers from across the country and abroad, is celebrated annually to symbolize the triumph of good over evil.
Prior to the inauguration, the Chief Minister participated in the Kalyan Aarti at Kalyansagar and offered prayers for the welfare of the state. Following this, he lit the ceremonial lamp on the Dhanya Manikya Open Stage adjacent to the temple, formally marking the beginning of the festival and accompanying fair.
In his address, Dr. Saha noted that the state government is prioritizing the development of religious tourism, with the ongoing Prasad scheme set to revamp the Tripurasundari Temple at Matabari, creating an enriched experience for pilgrims. “The footfall of devotees is steadily increasing at the Matabari Temple, and with the peace that has been established in the state, thousands of tourists from all over the country and beyond are visiting Tripurasundari Ma,” he said. Dr. Saha emphasized the government’s dedication to the welfare of all communities, remarking that a prosperous Tripura is essential to building a stronger India. He described the Diwali Festival and Fair as a cultural convergence of various communities, symbolizing unity and harmony.
Guest of Honor MP Biplab Kumar Deb remarked that the Diwali Festival and Fair is a celebration that transcends religious boundaries, welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. The event saw other notable attendees, including Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Gomati Zilla Parishad Chairperson Debal Debroy, MLAs Rampada Jamatia and Jitendra Majumder, Udaipur Municipal Council Chairperson Sheetal Chandra Majumder, and Tripura Bibhushan Dr. Arunoday Saha, former Vice-Chancellor of Tripura University.
During the ceremony, Abhishek Debroy, Chairman of the Matabari Festival and Fair Committee and MLA, expressed gratitude to the attendees, encouraging them to enjoy the festival responsibly. He also mentioned that live broadcasts of the temple’s worship and cultural events are being shown across the state through LED screens for those unable to attend in person.
In a show of support, generous donations were made to the Tripurasundari Temple Trust. These included Rs. 1 lakh from MLA Abhishek Debroy, Rs. 6 lakh from Dr. Arunoday Saha, Rs. 50,000 from social worker Sukanta Saha, and Rs. 50,000 from the Agriculture Engineering Wing, all handed over to Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Chairman of the Tripurasundari Temple Trust.
The guests later opened various government department exhibition stalls for the public. The event
