Agartala, Oct 4 (NationPress) Following the five-day-long Durga Puja celebrations, a vibrant array of cultural performances heralded the grand ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival this past Saturday, officially concluding the most significant annual festival celebrated by Hindus and various communities.

The ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival showcased the rich cultural, traditional, and diverse practices from numerous states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

This year, the 4th ‘Mayer Gamon carnival’, orchestrated by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, featured over 42 community puja idols, including those from the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC).

All Durga idols and others were beautifully adorned and transported on splendidly decorated trucks and trailers, parading through various parts of the capital city before their immersion in the Howrah (also known as Haora) River at Dashamighat.

During the processions, various clubs and puja organizers highlighted contemporary themes, notably the Armed Forces' successful 'Operation Sindoor', executed in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) on April 22.

The Chief Minister, Manik Saha, labeled the ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival as Tripura's largest cultural event, noting its establishment as an annual feature in the state's cultural calendar since 2022.

He emphasized that the carnival allowed several cultural troupes to display the state's rich and traditional heritage. The BJP government is committed to further enhancing and promoting Tripura's cultural and traditional aspects, as stated by CM Saha, who also oversees the Information and Cultural Affairs portfolio.

Moreover, he expressed gratitude to the police, power, and other departments for their dedicated efforts that ensured the smooth and peaceful celebration of the five-day-long Durga Puja festival (September 28 to October 2).

According to Pradeep Kumar Chakravarty, Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, awards will be presented to the top three clubs and puja organizers participating in the ‘Mayer Gaman’ carnival.

He also announced another upcoming annual event, 'Sarad Samman', where 43 clubs across the state will be recognized for their successful organization of Durga Puja, emphasizing contemporary, traditional, and historical traditions.

Hundreds of attendees enjoyed the colorful festivities with their families, as the weather was clear, contrasting with the previous puja days that experienced intermittent rain.

This year, Tripura Police Chief Anurag reported that approximately 3,000 community pujas were organized in the state, an increase from 2,750 in 2024.

Among Tripura's eight districts, the West Tripura district hosted 775 community pujas this year. Besides these community celebrations, numerous Durga Pujas took place in the residences of affluent families.

To ensure a peaceful Durga Puja celebration, an additional 8,000 police and personnel were deployed across all eight districts.

Furthermore, over 400 women police personnel and a significant number of plainclothes security officers assisted other security agencies in maintaining the festivities' safety and tranquility.

DGP Anurag indicated that numerous CCTV cameras and watchtowers were installed at critical, sensitive, mixed-populated, crowded locations, and large-budget pujas to manage crowds effectively.

Heightened vigilance along the India-Bangladesh borders, as well as with Assam and Tripura, was implemented, with state authorities requesting the BSF to maintain a strict watch along the international border to prevent infiltration and cross-border movement of hostile elements.