Bengali New year celebrated in Tripura

Agartala, Apr 15: People in Tripura today ushered in the Bengali new year with traditional gaiety and religious fervour.

Dressed in their best attire, people thronged the temples with their family members and paid obeisance to the Gods. Special prayers were offered at famous Lakshmi Narayan temple, Uma Maheswari temple and many Kali Bari in the city for the well-being of the public.

People also exchanged greetings and sweets with each other and shared their happiness since morning.

Poila Boishakh was welcomed warmly through various programmes, organising various cultural programmes. Young men folk were seen clad in the typical Bengali 'dhooti' and 'panjabi', while women folk dressed in sarees visited temples and offered prayers for peace and prosperity for the state.

Businessmen and traders were seen thronging the temples since early morning with their 'Hal Khata'(new business files) with hopes for good business this year(1414).

Soon after midnight, people of this city and other towns welcomed the Bengali New Year(1414) bursting fire-crackers and businessmen and traders dropped their shutters late last night, after completing year-ending accounts of their business.

Various cultural organisations organised programmes, where mainly 'Rabindra Sangeet' were sung and Kabi Guru's dance dramas were arranged in different areas to mark the occassion.

Fish and meat sellers had a tough time since early morning when people qued up for purchacing. Fishery department of Tripura Government had also opened a counter in many areas to sell fish and chicken at price lower than the market price.

Sweet shops in this capital city dried up in the first hour and many were seen returning with empty hands as stock of all types of sweets were exhausted.

Tribal communities arranged traditional Garia and Biju festivals in various parts of the state to mark the occassion.

The day began with a peaceful note, though security measures have been beefed up throughout the state to avoid any untoard incident, including risk from insurgents.

UNI