Mayer Gamon and Sharad Samman: AMC Reviews Puja Preparations

• Police and civic authorities will coordinate crowd control, traffic management, emergency ambulance corridors, power supply and idol immersion arrangements. 

The Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) has reviewed preparations for the annual Mayer Gamon procession and Sharad Samman awards ahead of Durga Puja 2026. Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumdar chaired the meeting at the corporation’s conference hall, bringing together senior police officers, district officials and representatives of several government departments.

The meeting focused on coordinating arrangements for the two events, managing crowds and traffic, maintaining essential services and ensuring safe idol immersion. Majumdar urged puja organisers and residents to cooperate with the administration to make the festivities peaceful, orderly and enjoyable.

West Tripura District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar, West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak and Traffic SP Kanta Jahangir attended the meeting. The AMC deputy mayor, corporators, Mayor-in-Council members, zonal chairpersons, the municipal commissioner, the Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) Department director, Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate and other officials also participated.

Review Follows CM’s Preparatory Meeting

Majumdar said the review followed an earlier meeting held on September 21 under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha. That meeting brought together puja organisers, club representatives and officials from various departments to discuss preparations for the festival.

The latest meeting assessed progress on the earlier decisions and reviewed the responsibilities assigned to different departments.

Majumdar said officials had made satisfactory progress. He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts would help ensure better arrangements than last year.

Durga Puja celebrations are scheduled to begin on October 17, with Dashami falling on October 21. The AMC and other agencies are coordinating arrangements for the festivities and the subsequent immersion-related events.

Mayer Gamon Scheduled for Oct 23

The AMC has selected the area near Tulsi Balika Vidyalaya as the venue for this year’s Mayer Gamon programme. The event took place at the same location last year.

Majumdar appealed to all puja committees and clubs to participate in the procession. He said the programme had grown in popularity since its launch in 2022, attracting increasing public interest and participation from puja organisers.

Under the arrangements discussed at the meeting, each participating club can bring a maximum of seven vehicles, comprising five large vehicles and two small vehicles. Each group will receive 10 minutes to perform in front of the stage during the programme.

The mayor expressed hope that more clubs would participate this year. He urged organisers to follow the prescribed guidelines and cooperate with the administration to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Sharad Samman: AMC Urges Clubs to Follow Guidelines

The meeting also reviewed preparations for the Sharad Samman awards, presented by the ICA Department and the AMC.

Majumdar encouraged Agartala’s puja committees to participate in the awards and organise their celebrations in accordance with government guidelines and municipal rules.

He stressed the importance of responsible arrangements by organisers. The administration wants clubs to maintain discipline and ensure that visitors can enjoy the festivities without inconvenience.

The mayor also called on organisers to cooperate with government departments and comply with instructions on public safety, traffic management and noise control.

Police to Strengthen Crowd and Traffic Management

Traffic management and public safety featured prominently in the discussions. Traffic SP Kanta Jahangir briefed officials on measures to reduce congestion and maintain smooth vehicle movement during Durga Puja and the Mayer Gamon procession.

Authorities plan to create dedicated corridors for emergency services, including ambulances. These arrangements will help patients reach hospitals without unnecessary delays during periods of heavy traffic.

West Tripura SP Namit Pathak assured the meeting that the police would deploy more personnel than last year. Officers will pay particular attention to crowded locations, especially the area in front of City Centre.

Police will also install bamboo barricades to regulate crowd movement and prevent overcrowding.

Majumdar reiterated that the administration would not permit DJ systems during the festivities. He urged club organisers to stop their use voluntarily and warned that the authorities would not tolerate violations involving DJs or excessive noise.

Power Supply and Idol Immersion Arrangements

The AMC has coordinated with the electricity department to maintain an uninterrupted power supply throughout the festival. Majumdar also urged puja committees to keep backup power arrangements ready to prevent disruptions caused by unexpected outages or technical faults.

Several agencies, including the Public Works Department, urban development authorities, Tripura Urban Planning and Development Authority (TUDA), Tripura Jal Board, AMC, police and district administration, are working together on festival preparations. The Smart City Mission’s chief executive officer and other officials are also working to complete planned civic improvements.

The corporation has separately reviewed arrangements for idol immersion at Dashamighat and other designated ghats across Agartala.

Majumdar said the city recorded 697 Durga Pujas last year, with approximately 342 idols immersed at Dashamighat. Other immersion ghats across municipal zones provide additional facilities for puja committees.

The final number of Durga Pujas for 2026 remains uncertain because registration is still underway. The authorities will determine the final count after the registration process concludes.

Mayor Appeals for Public Cooperation

Majumdar said the administration wanted to ensure that visitors and devotees could enjoy Durga Puja in a safe, clean and orderly environment.

He described the festival as a shared cultural tradition that brings people together irrespective of caste, religion or community. He appealed to residents, puja organisers and all participating departments to work together to maintain peace and public convenience.

The mayor expressed confidence that coordinated efforts would make this year’s celebrations successful. He also extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Sharad Utsav.