Agartala, Oct 6: Tripura houses one of the most unique idol of Goddess Duga in modern times that has ‘two hands’ and receives ‘gun salute’ or the State Salutation (Rashtriya Salaami), a tradition that has been in practice for 500 years.
This unique idol is at Durgabari Temple in Agartala, where the idol has two hands instead of the normal 10, because once Queen got frightened seeing the 10 hands, so eight hands of the idol here are hidden.
As per merger agreement of Royal Tripura and Indian Union (1949) the Puja in this Royal temple is state’s responsibility wherein District Magistrate is the Sebayat.
After the State gun salute, the idol is taken to the Raj Andar in the palace, where the King offers salutation and then it is taken for immersion on a palanquin (Palki). This five centuries-old Durga Puja started by the Tripura royal family remains the ultimate draw in this north-eastern state, despite the “invasion” of modern theme-based pujas organised by numerous organisations.
The celebration of Durga Puja was started by the Tripura royal family over five centuries ago in Udaipur which was then their capital. With time it shifted to Amarpur and finally to Agartala in early 18th century by Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya Bahadur who built a temple dedicated to the mother goddess some 183-years ago.
When Tripura signed the instrument of accession with the Government of India on October 15, 1949, it was agreed that the daily puja and associated expenditure at the Durgabari temple, Tripureswari Kali Temple at Udaipur in Gomati district and some other temples would be funded and looked after by the state government.
To adhere to the accession pact, the district magistrate of West Tripura, who is designated the sevayat (servitor) of the puja, has to supervise rituals at the temple.
The state government pays for the daily puja as well as the grander Durga Puja held in the month of ‘Ashwin’ (Autumn) in accordance with the Indian calendar.
However, the head of the royal family as the titular custodian of the temple remains associated with all functions which are held here including the Durga Puja.
