With a number of golf equipment organising Durga Puja and showcasing distinctive themes, the 148-year-old Durga Puja at Agartala’s historic Durgabari continues to be one of many primary points of interest for devotees. Folks from totally different elements of the nation and overseas go to this particular Durga Puja, the place the idol of the goddess has two arms as an alternative of the customary ten, as seen in most different golf equipment.
Situated subsequent to the 123-year-old Ujjayanta Palace—as soon as the royal abode of the Manikya rulers—Durgabari welcomed the Durga idol on Wednesday. Historical past information that Maharani Sulokkhona Devi, spouse of Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya, who then had his capital at Rangamati (now Udaipur, 50 km south of Agartala), fainted through the ‘Sandhya-arati’ after seeing the ten-armed Durga idol.
In response to legend, the queen acquired a divine commandment during which the goddess assured her that she would seem with solely two arms, whereas the remaining eight arms can be hidden on the again. This may preserve her legendary ‘Doshobhuja’ (ten-armed) kind whereas assuaging the queen’s concern. Because of this, the idol was crafted accordingly.
A Distinctive Idol and Its Custodianship
Durgabari’s head priest, Jayanta Bhattacharya, shared that the temple boasts the one Durga idol of its variety, worshipped initially by his ancestors on behalf of the erstwhile Manikya dynasty. Later, the state authorities took over the temple, together with Tripurasundari Temple in Udaipur and Chaturdas Devata Bari in Khayerpur, after Tripura’s merger with India on October 15, 1949.
“Devi Durga was worshipped somewhere else the place the erstwhile royal household had its capital, together with Amarpur, Udaipur, and Outdated Agartala. The temple was shifted right here shortly earlier than Ujjayanta Palace was constructed, and since then, the goddess has been worshipped right here,” Bhattacharya stated.
Ujjayanta Palace and Its Historic Significance
‘Maharaja’ Radhakishore Manikya Bahadur constructed the Ujjayanta Palace in 1901 after the previous palace was destroyed by an earthquake. The palace, which housed the state legislative meeting for a few years, has been the state museum since 2013. It served because the royal residence till Tripura merged with the Indian Union in 1949.
As per the merger settlement, the West Tripura District Justice of the Peace is the de facto ‘sevayat’ of the Durga Bari Puja rituals, whereas the DM of Gomati district serves because the ‘sevayat’ of the Tripurasundari Temple. Each temples have historic and mythological significance, relationship again over 140 years and 500 years, respectively.
Animal Sacrifice and Custom
Buffalo sacrifice was as soon as customary at Durgabari however was halted six years in the past following a Excessive Courtroom order in opposition to ritualistic animal sacrifice. Nonetheless, a later petition allowed some sacrificial rituals to proceed, and whereas animal sacrifices nonetheless happen, the numbers have considerably decreased.
This 12 months, the temple authorities have determined to not settle for any sacrifices from devotees. As an alternative, they are going to sacrifice 5 animals, together with a buffalo, donated by the federal government as a part of the rituals. One goat shall be sacrificed every day of the four-day Puja, together with a hen, which is historically sacrificed through the worship of the royal sword.
A Time-Honoured Puja
As custom dictates, the temple is renovated, cleaned, and painted earlier than every Durga Puja. This 12 months was no exception. The spacious ‘naat-mandir,’ the place devotees collect to look at the rituals, has been crammed with worshippers on all Puja days thus far. In response to custom, the Durgabari idol would be the first to be immersed after Vijaya Dashami at Dashamighat, a preferred immersion web site on the Howrah River.
Yearly, the idols of Durgabari are the primary to be immersed on the Dashamighat immersion web site, the place the state police band performs the nationwide anthem.
Historian Pannalal Roy, an professional on Tripura’s royal historical past, defined that the Puja bhog (choices to the deity) at Durgabari features a distinctive assortment of fruits, fish, eggs, and alcoholic drinks. These choices are in keeping with the rituals of the Shakta order of Hinduism.
Devotees’ Reverence
On Friday, many devotees have been seen visiting the Durgabari temple, providing prayers, and bringing their kids in hopes of receiving blessings and good well being from the deity.
“We go to Durgabari each likelihood we get. Durgabari is a singular temple, and we wouldn’t miss it for something,” stated Gouri Debbarma, an area devotee.
Sankari Roy, one other Agartala resident, echoed the sentiment: “This can be a historic spot and an excellent non secular shrine. Many pandals manage Durga Puja yearly, however Durgabari is one thing else.”
In response to officers, as many as 2,850 community-organised and over 100 family-organised Durga Pujas are being held throughout Tripura this 12 months.