Agartala, October 15:
As Tripura prepares for Durga Puja, its biggest festival, a food festival featuring traditional tribal and Bengali delicacies has brought women-led self-help groups (SHGs) into the spotlight, highlighting the role of homemade food in preserving culinary traditions, promoting community bonds and empowering women economically.
Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee inaugurated the first Food Fest at the Umakanta English Medium School ground in Agartala on Thursday. Organised by the District Mission Management Unit of the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) in collaboration with the West Tripura district administration, the festival will continue during the Durga Puja celebrations, targeting visitors and pandal-hoppers.
Addressing the gathering, Bhattacharjee said festivals in Tripura reflected the bond between tribal and non-tribal communities, with food forming an integral part of their shared traditions.
“Festivals and food go hand in hand. This initiative provides a platform for our women’s self-help groups to showcase the traditional food they prepare with care and love,” he said, appealing to people to visit the venue and sample Tripura’s traditional cuisine.
The festival offers women entrepreneurs an opportunity to market their food products, attract customers and generate income. Bhattacharjee said the initiative aligned with the government’s objective of making women self-reliant by supporting self-help groups in production, marketing and expanding their market reach.
He also urged the organisers to promote the event more widely through electronic media and social media platforms to attract more visitors during the festive season.
The festival comes at a time when fast food is increasingly competing with traditional culinary practices. By bringing homemade tribal and Bengali dishes under one roof, the initiative seeks to give traditional food greater visibility while creating a market for products prepared by women’s groups.
Bhattacharjee also highlighted the contribution of Tripura’s SHGs at national-level exhibitions, including events in New Delhi, where their products have received appreciation.
He said women’s empowerment was essential for the progress of both the state and the country, drawing a parallel with the importance accorded to feminine power in Indian traditions.
Paschim Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Biswajit Shil also attended the event.
With cultural programmes and traditional delicacies on offer, the festival seeks to make food more than a festive attraction—an opportunity to sustain local culinary heritage, strengthen social ties and support women’s economic self-reliance.
