Agartala, June 26 — Devotees across Tripura are preparing to celebrate the week-long Ratha Yatra festival, beginning tomorrow, with grandeur and religious fervor. The festivities will be marked by heightened security and detailed traffic advisories, especially in Agartala city and Melaghar, which remain the focal points of the celebrations.
Ratha Yatra, an ancient tradition dating back to the 12th century, commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from their main temple to the Gundicha Temple, believed to be their aunt’s home. The festival is celebrated in markets and towns across the state with immense enthusiasm.
Security has been beefed up for the occasion. SP West Tripura Kiran Kumar K stated that permission has been granted for six to seven Yatras, with three major processions organized by ISKCON Agartala, Hare Krishna Temple, and Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math’s Jagannath Jiu Temple. Forces from the CRPF, TSR, and Tripura Police will be deployed to ensure crowd control and safety.
To ensure safety, authorities have inspected all chariots, ensuring no metallic substances are used in the outer structures. The maximum allowed height for chariot pinnacles has been fixed at 5 meters.
The Traffic Police have issued advisories outlining alternative routes and restricted zones. Major processions will cover areas such as Purbasha, ISKCON Temple, RS Bhavan, Women’s College, and B.K Road, while others will pass through Jagannath Bari, Tulsibati School, Chittaranjan Road, and Ashram Chowmuhani.
Alternative routes suggested include AD Nagar to ILS via Barjala, and GB to Bypass via Indranagar and Math Chowmuhani. Multiple roads will be declared No Entry Zones during the event.
The state gears up for a vibrant yet orderly celebration of one of Hinduism’s most revered festivals.
