Poush Sankranti fair, commonly known as Tirthamukh mela is one of the most important fairs in Tripura where a large number of people participate, including many tribal groups from the neighbouring states. The mela is organised every year on January 13-14 (Poush Sankranti) as per Bengali calendar year at Tirthamukh on the bank of Gumti. Tirthamukh is about 50 Km from the district headquarter in Amarpur Sub-Division and is about 100 Km from the state capital. At this site, a hydro-electric project is also located. During the fair, a large number of devotees especially tribals perform the ritual of "Pindadan" and "Mundan" to pay their homage and respect towards the departed soul of their forefathers. Significance of Pindadan on the bank of Gumti at Tirthamukh in Tripura is considered next only to the pindadan offered at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. Government departments take this opportunity to educate the people about their schemes and development works by opening the stalls. Cultural programme is organised which continues for the entire night. The place is also crowded by the businessmen who do very good business during the mela. For details and arrangements, one may contact -

  - SDM, Amarpur - 03821-63226 (O), 63260 (R)

  - BDO, Amarpur- 03821-63264 (O & R)

Hojagiri Fair

The Hojagiri festival is held every year in the month of November. It is organised by the Reang community with some support from the Government. The place of the mela keeps on changing and is normally held at Karbook, Laxmichara and Kanchanpur, of which Karbook and Laxmichara are in South Tripura District and Kanchanpur is in North Tripura district. All these places are easily accessible by road. The fair has got religious significance for Reang tribes though all tribes and non-tribals also participate in the fair. A large number of tribal dance troops take part in the cultural programme which continues for the whole night. Some stalls of Government departments and local traders are also opened.

Diwali Festival

Diwali is celebrated during the month of October-November every year, on the dark night day (Amabashya) of the Bengali month Kartika. On the Diwali night, a large fair is held at Matabari which continues for the next day also. The holy temple and its premises are decorated with lights and a large number of stalls, including the stalls of the Government departments, are opened. More than 1 (one) lakh visitors visit the mela every year. The Government stalls disseminate the Government policies, activities, etc. to the visitors. The traders also open their stalls to sell locally produced items and other different kinds of commodities. Cultural programmes are also organised which continue till late in the night. Special Puja (worship) is organized in the temple of Sri Sri Mata Tripura Sundari. The place is well-connected with Agartala by road (56 Km) and can be easily reached. Contact persons for arrangements and advance booking are :

  - SDM, Udaipur - 03821-23573 (O), 22281 (R)

  - BDO, Matabari- 03821-23520 (O), 22245 (R)

Garia Festival

It is mainly the festival of Jamatia community and is organised by the Jamatia Hoda Committee. Venue of the festival is decided by the Hoda Committee and is normally held at a place in Amarpur or Udaipur Sub-Division. Since 1998, upto 2002, the festival was held at Bagma Khamarbari under Udaipur Sub-Division. At any given venue, the festival is organised continuously for 3(three) or 5 (five) years. The Garia festival starts on the last day of the Bengali month Chaitra (12th, 13th or 14th of April) of every year and continues for 7(seven) days. The festival provides a good opportunity to see and understand the social customs, culture and rituals of the Jamatia community. For details, one may contact :

  - Secretary, Jamatia Hoda - 0381-233384 (O)

  - SDM, Udaipur - 03821-23573 (O), 22281 (R)

  - SDM, Amarpur- 03821-63226 (O), 63260 (R)

Budha Fair

This is mainly a festival of Chakma community though other communities also participate. The festival is held for 1(one) day at Adipur under Matabari block which is well-connected with the district headquarter and the state capital. This fair provides a good opportunity to see the culture, customs and rituals of the chakma community. Contact persons are -

  - SDM, Udaipur - 03821-23573 (O), 22281 (R)

  - BDO, Matabari- 03821-23520 (O), 22245 (R)

Sanghati mela

Sanghati mela is held every year on 6th & 7th December at Chandrapur under Dimatali Gaon Panchayat in Rajnagar Block. The mela site is about 90 Km from the district headquarter and about 140 Km from the state capital, and can be reached by road. This fair is being organised since 1993 in the Chandrapur mosque complex, which is considered to be about 500 years old. People of all communities participate in the fair in a large number which sets a good example of communal harmony. Government departments open exhibition stalls showing their development works. Traders do brisk business during these 2(two) days. Cultural programme is organized at the open stage at Chandrapur and people from other Sub-Divisions also participate in the cultural programme. The mela is organized by BDO, Rajnagar (Telephone no. 03823-64221) who can be contacted for details and arrangements.

Pilak Fair

A stupa at Samsundertilla and images of Lord Buddha have been excavated at Pillak. The Archaeological Survey of India has protected the site considering the importance of the Stupa and other images. Since 1997, the fair is organised every year for 3(three) days in the month of January-February in order to attract the tourist to this historically important site. The site of the fair is Pillak which is about 53 Km from the district headquarter and 105 Km from Agartala. Exhibition stalls are opened by various Government departments showing their development activities, cultural programmes are organised and traders open their stalls. The Mela is organised by the Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism department, Government of Tripura with the help of BDO, Bagafa. For details and advance arrangements, one may contact:

  - Deputy Director, ICAT - 03821-22243 (O)

  - BDO, Bagafa- 03823-62238 (O & R)

Rushpurnima Fair

The mela was organised locally by the villagers of Nishikanta Murasingpara under West Patichari Gaon Panchayat in Bagafa block in that area. Since 1999, the Panchayat Samiti of Bagafa Block has taken active part in the fair and now this is organised on a large scale every year in the month of October-November on the occasion of Rushpurnima. The site of the fair is Murasingpara which is about 30 Km from the district headquarter and about 82 Km from the state capital, and is easily accessible by road. The highpoint of the fair is the folk dance and songs of different tribal and non-tribal groups during the fair. Some government departments open their exhibition stalls in the mela. Businessmen of Udaipur, Santirbazar and Belonia open their shops during the fair. Tribal Welfare Department and Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism department provide support and BDO, Bagafa organise the fair, who can be contacted for details and necessary arrangements -03823-62238 (O & R).

Buisu festival

Buisu festival is held every year on the occasion of Chaitra Sankranti, that is April 14-15, at Sinduk Pathar in Satchand Block of Sabroom Sub-Division. The place is about 70 KM from the district headquarter and is easily accessible by road. It is a festival for welcoming the new Bengali year and it is also the festival for preparation of land for Jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation). Though the festival is of the Tripuri community, it is also celebrated by other Boro groups. During Buisu festival, the Tripuri community people decorate their houses by arches and flowers, take care of their livestock (buffalos, cows, etc.) by decorating them with ornaments, distribute "Awam" (house made cake), wear new clothes, offer special drinks and food to their neighbours and participate in the Garia dance. They also go from one hamlet to another and visit all the nearby hamlets. Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism department, with the help of Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, organised this fair for the first time in 2002 at Sinduk Pathar. Cultural troops from all over the State participate in the festival. Exhibition stalls are also opened by some Government Departments. For details, one may contact -

  - Deputy Director, ICAT - 03821-22243 (O)

  - SDM, Sabroom - 03823-70225 (O), 70231 (R)

Mahamuni festival

Mahamuni festival is held at Manu Bankul which is situated under Rupaichari Block in Sabroom Sub-Division. Manu Bankul is about 18 Km from Sub-divisional headquarter and is about 80 Km from the district headquarter. The place is accessible by bus. Though the Mog community used to organise the fair earlier, since 2002, Government has initiated the fair on a large scale. The festival is held near the lord Buddha temple at Bankul. It is one of the important fairs of Mog community though other communities also take active part. During the festival, the local people decorate their houses by arches and flowers, distribute Awam, wear new cloths and worship lord Buddha. For details, one may contact -

  - Deputy Director, ICAT - 03821-22243 (O)

  - SDM, Sabroom - 03823-70225 (O), 70231 (R)

Fairs and Festivals of North Tripura District

Ashokastami Mela

An important festival of the State followed by a big fair popularly known as "Ashokastami Fair" is held at Unakoti Tirtha at Kailashahar every year in the month of March/April. Mela and the rite of bathing appear to be the special characteristic of Unakoti. Shibaratri, Makar Sankranti and Ashokastami Mela are the famous festivale of Unakoti. Thousands of religious people gather on that occassion to perform rituals and take a holi dip in the water of Astami kunda. Bathing rite is a special function at Unakoti which is actually the main object of gathering of pilgrims at Shivaratri, Makar Sankranti and Ashokastami Mela.

Orange & Tourism Festival

Orange & Tourism Festival is organised every year in Jampui Hill in the month of November during orange season. Jampui Hill is the only Hill Station in Tripura where large number of oranges are grown.

Maghi Purnima Mela at Khowrabill

Fairs are held at the time of Maghi Purnima ( in the month of February /March) at Chaturdas Devata Mandir of Khowrabill under Kailashahar subdivision. Thousands of devotees visit the site during the mela.

Fairs and festivals of Dhalai District

Attractive Fair

Rash Fair of Manipuri community held sometime in November at Baralutma Maharash Mandap 18 kms from Dist. H.q.

Attractive Dance

Lebang Bumani This is a famous Dance of the Riang community. The dance is performed standing on a bottle as well as keeping a bottle on the forehead. Dhamail of Bengali community ( Group Dance ). Hajagiri Another Dance of the Riang Community

Fairs and Festivals of west Tripura District

Fairs held in the district

- Rathajatra mela, Shivaratri mela, Sri Panchami mela, Charak mela, Janmastami mela, Baruni sran (Baruani mela), Shiva Chaturdashi mela, Sita Ram Kunda mela, Baishakhi mela, Mela (year ending), Narayan Khamar mela (on the occasion of Shripanchami), Kanchanmala mela (on the occasion of Poush Sankranti), Mela (on the occasion of Poush Sankranti), Mela (on the occasion of Bengali Nababarsa), Nehal Chandranagar mela, Kalibari mela, Purathal Rajnagar mela, Shiva mela, Chaitra mela (on the occasion of Chaitra Sankranti), Gopalnagar Malaitaler mela (on the occasion of Shivratri), Kalacherra mela, Kerchi mela ( on the occasion of Kerchi puja), Rashmela (on the occasion of Rashpurnima), Poush Sankranti, Naba Barsa, Darger mela (on the occasion of Poush Sankranti), Birth day ceremony of Srimat Swami Nitya Krishnanda Abadaut Mahaaj at (Yogi Bari) on the occasion of Srabani Purnima), Saraswati mela (on the occasion of Saraswati puja), Battala mela (Poush Sankranti), Darga mela (name of which is Thakurmura Darga).

Festivals held in the district

- Ker Puja, Kharachi Puja, Saraswati Puja, Druga Puja, Kali Puja, Shiv Puja, Dol Puja, Rath Jatra, Laxmi Puja, Poush Sankranti, Id-ud-Zuha, Good Friday, Easterday, New Year's day, Ganesh Puja Chaitra Sankranti, Manasa Puja, First baishakh, Biswakarma Puja, Rash Lila, Charak Puja, basanti Puja, Jhulan Jatra, Janmastami, Christmas day, Burdebta Moharram, Bishub Parab, Ganga Puja, Garia Puja, Sitala Puja, Nabanna, Birthday of Swami Vivekananda, Bishahari Puja.

Brief descriptive notes on selected fairs/festivals

Kharchi festival

Kharch puja of this territory is performed with great joy and devotion. No other festival in Tripura is held with so much pomp and show as this. It is also called 'Chaturdash' or 'Chaudda Devata Puja'. The place where the festival fair is held is, known as 'Chaturdash Devata' or 'Chaudda Devatas bari, Old Agartala, the second capital of His Highness Krishna Manikya. The old Agartala was the capital of the former rulers of Tripura and 'Chaturdash Devata' were their family deities. When the capital was shifted to Agartala from old Agartala, the family deities were, however, left there for reasons not known. The then rulers of Tipura, however, appointed a group of tribal priests for the worship of these fourteen Gods. From that time onward the Gods are being daily worshipped. But in the month of Ashar (June-July) on the eighth day of the moonlit period (Suklastami), a special worship known as

Kharchi Puja begins which continues for seven days. As regards genesis of the deities it is believed that in the hoary past there was a king named Tripur who used to rule this land and after whom the place was named as Tripura. It is said that he was very cruel and oppressive towards the subjects. The tyranny and oppression of the king became so intolerable that his subjects lodged protest against him to Lord Siva, who being pleased with their prayers and worship, killed the king Tripur. Though the king was killed, the suffering and miseries of the people instead of abating aggravated, as they were left without a king. They once again prayd to Lord Siva for a king. Lord Shiva was pleased and said that soon the widow queen of Tripur, 'Harabati' would be blessed with a son, who would rule the kingdom to the satisfaction of all. He, however, directed the queen and others to worship daily the following Gods : hara (Lord Siva), Uma (Wife of Lord Siva), hari (Lord bishnu), Ma (Lakshmi), Bani (Saraswati), Kumar (Kartikaya), Ganesh (Siddidata), Brahma (creator of Universe), Prithi (Goddess of Earth), Samudra (God of Ocean), Ganga (Goddess of Ganges), Agni (God of Fire) Kamdev (God of Love and Romance), and Himalaya (God of all Hills). During Kharchi Puja another Goddess, namely 'Burama' is worshipped by a tribal priest.

The deity is made of stone nd kept in a separate hut which is open on all sides and constructed on a pucca plinth. All the year round the deity is kept these, although-worship is done only during Kharchi Puja. Every woman specially married ones after vermilion and lights candle in front of Burama with a fervent hope of being blessed with children. It is believed that ven a barren woman who offers Puja to Burama is blessed with children. The most redeeming feature of the Kharchi Puja is the sacrifice of thousands of the goats offered by religious minded people of all castes and creeds. This act of sacrifice is performed by a special group of priests known as Galim. Body of the animal after being sacrificed, is given back to the person who brings it, while the head is retained by the Galims. After each sacrifice, some quantity of blood and pieces of flesh of animal are offered to fourteen gods.

Ker festival

probably the most outstanding and at the same time peculiar festival of Tripura is the Ker Puja. it is held just after a fortnight of Kharchi Puja. The worship for 'ker' is held only one the first Tuesday or Saturday after fourteen days of Kharchi Puja. It seems that the worship of ke has a direct link with the worship of Kharchi, because the ker is also worshipped by 'Chantai' the chief of the priests of old Agartala. In the performance of this worship a particular place is earmarked which is known as ker Chaumuhani at Agartala and it is demorcated from rest of the places by a bamboo fence. This festival is also held in several tribal villages of Tripura where 'Ojhai' (tribal priest) performs the worship. The main feature of this festival is the worship of a long invoked bamboo which is locally known as nagri Pura.