Agartala, Sep 22 (NationPress) In response to a long-held public desire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the renovated Mata Tripura Sundari temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas revered by Hindus, located in southern Tripura’s Udaipur.

A high-ranking official from the Tourism Department stated that the redevelopment of the 524-year-old Tripura Sundari temple was undertaken at a cost exceeding Rs 54 crore under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, supported by the Union Tourism Ministry. The central government allocated Rs 34.43 crore, while the Tripura government contributed Rs 17.61 crore to this initiative.

After virtually launching 13 development projects valued at over Rs 5,127 crore in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister arrived in Agartala on Monday afternoon. From there, he traveled by helicopter to the Udaipur district headquarters, where he officially inaugurated the revamped Mata Tripura Sundari temple, situated 65 km south of Agartala.

During his visit, PM Modi participated in a 12-km roadshow from the Palatana helipad to the temple, where he received a warm welcome from thousands of men, women, and children lining the route. Following the inauguration and beautification of the temple surroundings, he performed a puja at the Kali temple. The Prime Minister also toured an exhibition highlighting the temple's history, traditions, and cultural significance.

This visit marks PM Modi's 11th trip to Tripura and his second visit to the Mata Tripura Sundari temple since taking office in 2014. Previously, he offered puja there on April 7, 2019, and his last visit to Tripura was on April 17, 2024, related to the Lok Sabha elections.

Accompanying the Prime Minister were Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP state President and Rajya Sabha member Rajib Bhattacharjee, along with other leaders and senior officials.

On his official X account, Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed: “The captivating nighttime view of the newly constructed infrastructure of Mother’s Abode, established under the Prasad Project, reflects the current government's deep respect and gratitude towards Mother.”

He also shared a video showcasing the redeveloped temple and its surroundings. The Tripura Sundari temple, located in southern Tripura’s Gomati district, is a cultural icon and a representation of the state's rich heritage.

The Prime Minister's inauguration of the revamped temple underscores its importance, as noted by officials.

This temple was constructed in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, the former king of Tripura, and is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India, being the third such shrine in eastern India after the Kali temple in Kolkata and the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. Following the 517-year reign of numerous kings, on October 15, 1949, the princely state of Tripura was integrated into India via a merger agreement signed by Kanchan Prabha Devi, the then-regent Maharani, and the Governor General.

The temple features a square sanctum designed in the traditional Bengali Ek-Ratna Style, perched atop a small hillock resembling a tortoise (Kurma), which is why it is referred to as Kurma Pīṭha.

Inside the sanctum, there are two distinct black stone idols of the Goddess. The larger idol, standing at 5 feet, represents Goddess Tripura Sundari, while the smaller idol, affectionately known as Chhoto-Ma (meaning Little Mother), is 2 feet tall and depicts Goddess Chandi. Historically, the smaller idol was taken by the Tripura kings to battlefields and hunting trips.

Recently, the Matabari Peda (sweets) offered as prasad at the temple received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Annually, lakhs of devotees gather here to celebrate Diwali.

The two-day Diwali Mela (fair) is a significant annual event that attracts thousands from across the nation, reflecting the multicultural essence of Tripura. It is expected to draw many additional visitors each year, thereby enhancing the local economy.

Each year, more than 12-15 lakh people visit the temple to offer their prayers from all over the country and neighboring Bangladesh. Currently, daily pilgrim arrivals range from 3000-3500, but with the completion of the ambitious redevelopment project, this number is anticipated to double to around 5000-7000 visitors. This initiative will create both direct and indirect employment opportunities for local communities, hotels, guides, taxi owners, and other stakeholders, as stated by officials.