Tripura CM Manik Saha to open 3-day Diwali fest at 525-yr-old Sundari temple
Synopsis
Tripura CM Manik Saha will inaugurate a three-day Diwali festival at the 525-year-old Maa Tripura Sundari Temple — one of India's 51 Shakti Peethas — on 8 November, with a drone show, Bhajan Sandhya, and a five-km no-fly zone in place. The temple was redeveloped at a cost of over ₹54 crore under the Centre's PRASHAD scheme.
Key Takeaways
Tripura CM Manik Saha will inaugurate a three-day Diwali festival at Maa Tripura Sundari Temple , Udaipur , on 8 November .
The temple was built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya and is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.
A no-fly zone within a 5-km radius of the temple has been imposed from 8 to 10 November .
The temple was redeveloped under the PRASHAD scheme at a cost of over ₹54 crore , with the Centre contributing ₹34.43 crore and Tripura contributing ₹17.61 crore .
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped temple on 22 September last year.
The festival features a Bhajan Sandhya and a drone show on the inaugural day.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha will inaugurate a three-day Diwali festival at the historic Maa Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Gomati district, on Sunday, 8 November, officials confirmed on Saturday. The temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the country, was built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya and stands as one of eastern India's most revered pilgrimage sites.
Festival Highlights and Inaugural Day Events
Local MLA Abhishek Debroy and Gomati District Magistrate Rinku Lather confirmed that all arrangements for the annual Diwali Mela have been completed. The inaugural day is set to feature a Bhajan Sandhya and a drone show as headline attractions, drawing devotees and tourists from across the region. The festival runs from 8 to 10 November.
Security and Air Restrictions in Place
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Manchak Ipper and senior officer Anirban Das conducted an on-ground inspection of the fairground, reviewing police deployment, traffic management, crowd control, and emergency response protocols. The district police chief is reportedly monitoring security arrangements on a round-the-clock basis.
As a precautionary measure, the district administration has imposed a no-fly zone within a five-km radius of the temple from 8 to 10 November. The order prohibits the operation of drones, manned and unmanned aircraft, and other aerial objects during the festival period. Aerial devices specifically authorised for use at the Diwali Mela have been exempted from the restriction.
Temple's Significance and Recent Redevelopment
The Maa Tripura Sundari Temple holds a distinctive place among India's sacred shrines — it is the third major Shakti Peetha in eastern India, after the Kali temple at Kalighat, Kolkata, and the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. Its spiritual and cultural heritage stretches back over five centuries, rooted in the legacy of the erstwhile Tripura royal dynasty.
The temple received a significant infrastructural boost under the Union Tourism Ministry's PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, which funded a comprehensive redevelopment at a total cost of more than ₹54 crore. The Central government contributed ₹34.43 crore, while the Tripura government provided ₹17.61 crore towards the project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped temple on 22 September last year and offered prayers at the Kali temple on the premises.
Historical Context
The temple's origins trace back to 1501, when Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, the erstwhile king of Tripura, commissioned its construction in Udaipur. The princely state of Tripura merged with the Indian Union on 15 October 1949, following an agreement signed between Kanchan Prabha Devi, the then regent Maharani, and the Governor-General of India — ending 517 years of monarchy in the region.
The Diwali festival at the temple is expected to draw large crowds, and authorities have urged visitors to cooperate with security personnel and follow the prescribed traffic routes.
Point of View
Followed by PM Modi's personal visit last year and now a CM-led inauguration, signals a deliberate effort to elevate the temple's national profile. What remains to be seen is whether the infrastructure investment translates into sustained tourist footfall and local economic benefit, or remains a high-visibility event without lasting impact on Gomati district's broader development.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Diwali festival at Maa Tripura Sundari Temple?
The three-day Diwali festival runs from 8 to 10 November at the Maa Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Gomati district, Tripura. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha will formally inaugurate the event on 8 November.
What is the historical significance of the Maa Tripura Sundari Temple?
The temple was built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya and is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India. It is the third major Shakti Peetha in eastern India, after the Kalighat temple in Kolkata and the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.
Why has a no-fly zone been imposed near the temple?
The district administration has imposed a no-fly zone within a five-km radius of the temple from 8 to 10 November to ensure security during the festival. The restriction covers drones, manned and unmanned aircraft, and other aerial objects, with exemptions granted only for authorised aerial devices at the Diwali Mela.
How much was spent on redeveloping the Tripura Sundari Temple?
The temple was redeveloped at a total cost of more than ₹54 crore under the Union Tourism Ministry's PRASHAD scheme. The Central government contributed ₹34.43 crore and the Tripura state government provided ₹17.61 crore.
What are the main attractions at the Diwali festival this year?
The inaugural day on 8 November will feature a Bhajan Sandhya and a drone show as the headline attractions. Elaborate security arrangements, including round-the-clock police monitoring, have been put in place to manage the expected rush of devotees and visitors.
