| INDIA TRAVELS >>
TRIPURA |
| Tripura accded to the Indian Union in 1949.
This anicient land of mysterious past is located
in the north Eastern region of India between
22.56 and 24''.32' North latitude and 92"09'
and 92"20' east longitude and is bounded
on the north west south and south east by
the international boundary of Bangladesh.
In the east it has a common boundary with
Assam abd Mizoraam. 60% of the total area
eco-friendly envirnoment and pleasant weather
of this panaromic tiny state with an area
of about 10,500 sq. kms. is inhabited largely
by 19 tribes, Bengali, Manipuri and other
communities. |
|
Sepahijala Wild Life Sanctuary, is about 25
kms from Agartala covering an area of about
18 sq kms.It houses about 150 species of birds
and the unique spectacled monkey. There is
also a botanical garden, zoo, lake and boating
facilities nearby. The Trishna Wild Life Sanctuary
is located about 100 kms away. |
Handicrafts |
| Loin-loom,
indeed is the oldest and most developed cottage
industry of Tripura. Among the traditional
produces mention may be made of dubris (a
piece of skirt to be wrapped twice over the
body) riha or risa (breast garment); bed-covers,
screens, asanas etc. Silk is another age old
industry of Tripura. Next to weaving, cane
and bamboo works occupy place of prominence.
Bamboo is available in super abundance, and
this typical forest wealth of Tripura is one
material that is used in many ways from building
homes to making toys. Many artistic things
are made of bamboo or its roots for example
toy, tray, vase, photo-frame, human figure,
casket, calender, pen-stand etc. |
Fairs
and Festivals |
Of the
many festivals which are celebrated in Tripura,
the worship of fourteen Gods popularly known
as "Kharchi Puja" occupies a place
of pride. This is celebrated with great enthusiasm
in the month of July every year. The first
day of this week long festival is declared
a holiday by the Government. Ker and Garia
Puja- these two traditional tribal festivals,
need special mention. Ker Puja starts generally
fifteen days after Kharchi Puja. It is said
that this puja is performed for the welfare
of the state and its people. The puja is performed
within a specific boundary & during the
puja nobody is allowed to enter or come out
of this specified boundary. The Garia Puja
is performed on the sevventh day of the month
of Baisakh (April). When the Puja is over,
the devotees, men and women take to dancing.
Another remarkable tribal festival is Ganga
Puja. This puja is held in March-April. About
4 to 5 Villages join together to perform this
puja. To perform the puja they build a temple
of bamboo just on the middle of the river.
They sacrifice goats, buffaloes and ganders
and pray to God to save them from epidemic
disease. Durga Puja in the month of October
is one of the most popular festivals of Tripura.
Next comes Diwali, on the occasion of which
each year a big fair is held near Matabari
in the temple of Tripura Sundari at Udaipur.
"Ashokastami fair" is held at Unakoti
Tirtha at Kalishahar every year in the spring.
Thousands of pilgrims assemblle here to offer
prayers to the images of Goddesses engraved
on the hilly rocks which are found here |
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