Agartala, 19th October 2026 : Maha Ashtami, one of the most auspicious days of Durga Puja, was celebrated with religious fervour across Tripura on Monday. Devotees gathered in large numbers at Durga Bari in Agartala from the early morning to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Goddess Durga.
The Ashtami Puja was performed in the morning, followed by Pushpanjali before 7 am. Hundreds of devotees assembled on the temple premises to offer flowers and pray for the well-being of their families and the people of the state. Sandhi Puja was also performed as part of the traditional rituals.
Similar scenes were witnessed at various Durga Puja pandals across Agartala, where devotees turned out in large numbers to participate in the Ashtami rituals. With the time for offering Anjali being limited, devotees began arriving at the pandals early in the morning. The entire state remained immersed in festive celebrations, with neighbourhoods and local communities organising special prayers and rituals.
Kumari Puja was organised at the Ramakrishna Mission in Agartala and the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram at Madhuban Rani Khamar. At the Ramakrishna Mission, Vedantika Chakraborty, a resident of the College Tilla area, was worshipped as the Kumari on the auspicious occasion of Maha Ashtami. A large number of devotees and visitors gathered at the Mission to witness the ceremony.
Kumari Puja is a traditional ritual associated with Tantric practices, while the autumnal Durga Puja is rooted primarily in Puranic traditions and draws upon various strands of Hindu religious practice. The ritual of worshipping a young girl as a manifestation of the Divine Mother became part of religious observances over time. Meanwhile, devotees continued visiting homes and community pandals across the city, enjoying the festive spirit of Durga Puja.
