With the four-day Durga Puja, the biggest festival for Hindu Bengalis and tribals, set to begin later this month, the state administration has started extensive preparations to ensure a peaceful and joyous celebration across the city.
On Thursday, West Tripura District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar and Superintendent of Police (West) Namit Pathak convened a meeting with representatives and organizers of community Durga Pujas at the government-run Muktadhara auditorium in IGM Chaumuhuni, Agartala. The session witnessed strong participation from various clubs and puja committees, who attentively listened to the guidelines and suggestions laid out by the administration.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Vishal Kumar urged all organizers to extend full cooperation to the administration in order to conduct the festival smoothly. He emphasized the need for proper first-aid facilities at puja venues, ensuring medical support for devotees and visitors if required. Highlighting crowd management, he called for maintaining discipline inside pandals to allow devotees to enjoy pandal-hopping without difficulty.
The District Magistrate also placed special focus on curbing noise pollution, reminding organizers of court rulings that restrict noise levels to below 65 decibels. He appealed to puja committees to avoid situations that may force police intervention during what should be a festive occasion.
SP (West) Namit Pathak assured that adequate police deployment will be in place, along with regular patrolling, to maintain law and order throughout the celebrations. He advised organizers to stay in close contact with the police for quick assistance whenever required. Police help posts will also be set up across town to assist the public.
The SP further cautioned puja organizers regarding subscription collections, stressing that no complaints of extortion should arise from the community during the festival.
Several club representatives also shared their views during the meeting and pledged full cooperation with the administration. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to ensuring a safe, harmonious, and joyous Durga Puja this year.