By TC News Desk
Agartala, 15th October 2025: The 34th Hojagiri Festival of the Reang tribal community was celebrated on October 8 and 9 in Bogafa under the Santirbazar subdivision. Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha attended the event as chief guest, where he acknowledged the cultural significance of the Riang people and addressed recent criticisms surrounding their settlement in the state.
In response to growing public discourse over the Riang community’s origins from Bangladesh, the Bru Sangma Motha organization called for restraint and respect. At a press conference held Wednesday at the Agartala Press Club, General Secretary Khanaram Reang urged the public to refrain from divisive commentary and recognize the community’s longstanding contributions to Tripura’s cultural fabric.
Khanaram highlighted the Sangma Puja, a central religious observance for the Riang community, traditionally held on the new moon of the Bhadra month. This year, the 24th Sangma Puja was celebrated on September 22 and 23 in Birchandra Manu, with Chief Minister Saha again attending as chief guest. During the event, community leaders requested that Sangma Puja be recognized with an official state holiday. The Chief Minister subsequently granted the request, a move that was met with gratitude from the Reang society.
The press conference also revisited a longstanding land dispute involving a plot originally donated by Maharaja Ishanchandra Manikya for the Sangma temple. The land, measuring one kani and six gandas, is allegedly under illegal occupation by Anandamayi Ashram. Despite repeated efforts, previous administrations failed to resolve the issue. The Riang community has now appealed to the current Chief Minister to allocate one kani of land for a new service center.
To further press their demands, the organization announced plans for a rally at Swami Vivekananda Maidan here. A memorandum outlining their concerns has already been submitted to Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. The press meet was also attended by community leaders Thoba Reang and Bibhasri Reang.
