CM Manik Saha Joins Panchami Puja Parikrama at Lal Bahadur Club
Synopsis
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha joined the Panchami evening celebrations on October 15, 2026, undertaking a puja parikrama that included a visit to the Lal Bahadur Club pandal, continuing his tradition of public engagement during Durga Puja.
Key Takeaways
Tripura Chief Minister Dr.
Manik Saha conducted a puja parikrama on the evening of Panchami, October 15, 2026 .
His itinerary included the Lal Bahadur Club pandal.
He shared four images from the visit on X, capturing the festive atmosphere.
Durga Puja is the most prominent cultural and religious festival in Tripura , celebrated widely among the state's Bengali Hindu population.
Pandal-hopping by state leaders is a longstanding tradition of public engagement during the festival season in eastern and northeastern India.
The joyous evening of Panchami drew Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha into the heart of the festivities as he undertook a puja parikrama — a ceremonial pandal-hopping visit — stopping at the Lal Bahadur Club on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
In his post on X, the Chief Minister wrote: 'পঞ্চমীর আনন্দঘন সন্ধ্যায় পূজা পরিক্রমায় - লাল বাহাদুর ক্লাব' — 'On the joyous evening of Panchami, on a puja parikrama — Lal Bahadur Club.' Four images accompanied the post, offering a glimpse of the festive atmosphere at the community pandal.
Panchami evening and the tradition of pandal visits
Durga Puja is the defining cultural event of the year across Tripura, a northeastern state with a large Bengali Hindu population. The five-day festival unfolds from Shashthi through Dashami, but Panchami — the evening before the formal rituals begin — carries its own celebratory charge as pandals open their doors and neighbourhoods come alive. For state leaders in eastern and northeastern India, conducting puja parikramas is a long-standing act of public engagement — part protocol, part genuine participation in community life. Chief ministers and governors routinely move through clusters of pandals, meeting organisers and residents, and Dr. Saha, who has led Tripura since 2022, has been a visible presence at such events throughout his tenure.Lal Bahadur Club on the CM's itinerary
The Lal Bahadur Club, whose pandal the Chief Minister visited, represents the grassroots community organisations that form the backbone of Durga Puja in Tripura. Neighbourhood clubs spend months fundraising, constructing elaborate tableaux, and coordinating the five-day worship — and a visit from the state's top elected official carries both symbolic recognition and a personal touch that residents tend to remember. The warmth of Panchami is a reminder that in Tripura, governance and culture are rarely far apart. Festival season is also a moment of unscripted contact between leaders and citizens — no formal stage, no prepared remarks, just marigolds and dhak-beats.Point of View
Where Bengali Hindu cultural identity is central to social life, visible participation in Durga Puja reinforces a leader's connect with the majority community. For the BJP, which swept to power in the state in 2018 and retained it in 2023, cultural proximity to festivals like Durga Puja has been a deliberate part of its grassroots outreach strategy. Such parikramas also serve a softer governance function: they signal accessibility and community solidarity at a time when citizens are at their most festive and receptive. In a state that has seen significant political churn over the decades, the image of a sitting CM joining a neighbourhood club's celebrations carries a quiet, stabilising message.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a puja parikrama?
A puja parikrama is a ceremonial tour of Durga Puja pandals — temporary worship structures set up by community clubs — typically undertaken by public figures, politicians, and community leaders during the festival.
Why did CM Manik Saha visit the Lal Bahadur Club?
CM Dr. Manik Saha visited the Lal Bahadur Club as part of his Panchami evening puja parikrama, a tradition where state leaders participate in Durga Puja celebrations by visiting community pandals across their constituency or state.
When is Panchami in Durga Puja 2026?
Panchami falls on the fifth day of the lunar fortnight leading up to Durga Puja. In 2026, CM Saha's Panchami parikrama took place on the evening of October 15.
How is Durga Puja celebrated in Tripura?
Durga Puja is the most prominent festival in Tripura, celebrated enthusiastically by the state's large Bengali Hindu population through elaborately decorated community pandals, cultural programmes, and five days of worship from Shashthi to Dashami.
Who is Dr. Manik Saha?
Dr. Manik Saha is the Chief Minister of Tripura and a senior BJP leader who has helmed the northeastern state since 2022. He is also a trained dental surgeon and former state BJP president.
