Durga Puja 2016: Final preparations for celebrations underway in Tripura

Agartala: Last minute finishing work of pandals and idols are going on at a war footing speed after the preparations for the Durga Puja celebrations have been affected due to rain during the past few days in Tripura.

Decorators are busy giving the final finishing to the pandals, while artisans are working hard colouring the idols.

With the sky becoming clear and the sun coming out, the artisans are again busy in giving the Pygmalion touch to the idols and decorators, who are engaged making beautiful pandals (makeshift temples), have speedup their activities to complete their work before the Durga Puja festival that starts from Friday.

"Only three days are left for the puja and we are very busy working 24 hours day and night because without that we cannot complete our task and keep our commitment to our customers. Our staffs are also working hard. Compared to last year the number of pujas has increased and I also got more order. This time I have completed 28 idols and there were order for few more but I refused," said Narayan Rudra Paul, an artisan.

Not only locals but every year thousand of artisans also visit West Bengal who work here in idol making or decorating the pandals and thus Durga Puja is a big source of income for many.

Sanju Nath an artisan said, "We are from Nadia district of West Bengal and working here for the last five years. The situation here is very congenial and we enjoy working here so keep coming here. Our theme is based on jute. West Bengal is famous for its jute products but the industry is getting ruined and here we have make the idol out of jute. There is huge work pressure and so we are working day and night to fulfill our target."

Meantime, security arrangements have been intensified for a peaceful celebration of the puja said DG police K Nagraj."Elaborate security arrangements have been made and according to available information some 4100 pujas are taking place in the state. About 1000 plus are taking place in the urban areas and 494 pujas are taking in and around Agartala. We have made adequate security arrangements and we are installing CC cameras. Few have been already installed and more shall be installed by next two days. Mobile patrolling has been increase in the highways and other roads for the safety of those coming from outside and smooth movement. Rail connectivity is also there this time and we are taking measures for the safety and smooth movement," said DGP Nagraj.

Durga Puja is the prime festival of Tripura celebrated both by the non-tribal and tribal section of people with full devotion and merrymaking.

Colourful pandals, variety types of idols and festivities - Tripura is in a celebration mode again as the rain god has stopped.

The organisers have heaved a sigh of relief and are busy completing their work to give the best show during the puja.

Millions of Hindu devotees worship deities and visit specially designed pandals during the festive season to revere Goddess Durga.

This year there has been an increase in the number of pujas as the celebration resumes even in the remote areas where once due to militant threat the celebration, a symbol of unity among the tribal and non-tribal, had to be stopped.