Agartala, October 16: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday said community Durga Puja celebrations organised by clubs across the state had undergone a significant change since 2018, with organisers increasingly embracing healthy competition, innovative themes and social welfare activities.
Saha made the remarks while inaugurating several community Durga Puja pandals in Agartala for the third consecutive day, including the puja organised by Aikyatan Yuba Sanghstha at Shantipara, a locality where he grew up and shares a longstanding personal association.
Highlighting the changing role of community clubs, Saha said Durga Puja organisers were no longer limiting their activities to festival arrangements but were also using their pandals and celebrations to promote social awareness.
“Since 2018, the club culture has changed. Earlier, there were difficult situations among clubs, but now there is healthy competition. Clubs are organising blood donation camps, distributing clothes, undertaking philanthropic activities and holding cultural programmes for children besides creating awareness on the messages of the government,” he said.
He noted that community puja organisers were increasingly adopting innovative themes, often inspired by social media, while incorporating messages on cleanliness, environmental protection, combating drug addiction and women’s empowerment.
The inauguration of the Aikyatan Yuba Sanghstha puja was particularly significant for Saha, who recalled his longstanding association with the club and said his responsibilities as Chief Minister had reduced the time he could devote to its activities.
“I have a very old relationship with this club. I still wish to spend time here and help resolve local problems, but I cannot give as much time as I could earlier,” he said.
Recalling the vision with which the club had been established, Saha said he continued to feel personally connected to its activities and offered suggestions to organisers whenever required.
He also underlined the role of community Durga Puja in strengthening social harmony by bringing people from different communities and backgrounds together for a shared celebration.
“We want everyone to live together without disturbing one another. Durga Puja strengthens this bond and brings people together,” he said, invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas.
With pandal-hoppers already visiting decorated community puja venues across Agartala, the Chief Minister urged organisers to continue improving their celebrations while contributing to society.
Durga Puja is Tripura’s biggest festival, marked by participation from people across communities and religions.
