Agartala, January 13: Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varman on Tuesday said that the present Tripura government is actively working towards the revival of the state’s lost cultural heritage and traditional customs of both indigenous and non-tribal communities, which, he alleged, were long ignored by previous regimes.
The Governor was speaking at the Kwthar Hangrai Ter programme held at the Agartala Press Club, organised by the Maharani Tulsibati Welfare Trust.
The event was attended by Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy, Sanjib Reang, Member District Council (MDC) of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), Dr Vishal Kumar, DM West Tripura district, Bipin Debbarma, BJP state general secretary and other dignitaries.
Highlighting several initiatives, Dev Varman, also former Deputy CM of Tripura, said that Tripura’s cultural heritage is now witnessing a phase of revival.
He pointed out that the traditional tribal cloth Risha has received Geographical Indication (GI) recognition, while the Chief Minister and Ministers are now regularly participating in cultural and traditional festivals across the state.
The Governor further noted that the birthday of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya has been declared a state holiday, while the holiday for the traditional Goria festival has been extended—steps which, he said, reflect the government’s commitment to preserving Tripura’s rich cultural legacy.
Without naming the previous Left Front government, the Governor remarked that while a Risha could once be found preserved in a museum in Britain, it was neither commonly used nor properly showcased in Tripura itself.
“Today, everyone is proudly using Risha, which shows that the revival process is truly underway,” he said, adding that the combined efforts of the government and society are yielding positive results.
Dev Varman also emphasised that self-reliance stems from self-respect, which in turn comes from an understanding of one’s roots, culture, and societal strength.
He said cultural heritage plays a vital role in uniting society, particularly among tribal communities, where traditions such as group dances symbolise collective unity rather than individual performance.
“The strength of any society lies in its culture and heritage, and Tripura is now reclaiming that strength,” the Governor asserted.
