Udaipur, Oct 30: Preparations are underway for the annual Diwali Utsav at the revered Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur with the organisers expecting footfall of more than 10 lakh devotees this year.
The three-day festival will commence on November 8, featuring an expanded fair, cultural performances and a special drone show.
Gomati Zila Sabhadhipati Debal Deb Roy announced the festival arrangements at a press conference held at the Gomati District Magistrate’s office on Friday. He said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha would formally inaugurate the festival at 6 pm on November 8.
Highlighting the growing popularity of the annual religious and cultural gathering, Deb Roy said approximately eight lakh people had visited the fair last year. The organisers are now expecting the number to exceed 10 lakh, making this year's edition even bigger.
A specially organised drone show is expected to be one of the major highlights of the celebrations. The festival will also feature elaborate illumination, cultural programmes and a special Mangal Aarti to be performed by priests arriving from Kashi.
The arrangements have also been scaled up to accommodate the anticipated rush. The number of stalls will increase from 800 last year to 1,000 this time. Distribution of coupons for stall allotment will take place between November 1 and 4, after which the final allocation will be made through a lottery system.
Connectivity is another key area receiving attention ahead of the festival. The organisers are exploring the possibility of introducing a special train service between Dharmanagar and Sabroom to facilitate the arrival and departure of devotees from different parts of the state. Efforts are also being made to invite a Union Minister to the inaugural programme.
Local MLA Abhishek Debroy, Udaipur Municipal Council Chairman Shital Chandra Majumder, Saha Sabhadhipati Sujan Kumar Sen, Additional District Magistrate Subhash Acharya and Assistant Director of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department Tinku Das were present at the preparatory meeting.
Meanwhile, local MLA and BJP state president Abhishek Debroy visited the Tripura Sundari Temple in the evening along with administrative officials to assess the preparations.
During the visit, he stressed the need to ensure proper facilities and a comfortable experience for devotees, while maintaining cleanliness and hygiene across the temple complex.
With a larger fairground arrangement, enhanced transport plans and new attractions, the upcoming Matabari Diwali Utsav is expected to emerge as a major religious and cultural gathering in the Northeast India.