Agartala, 14th April 2026: Tripura bid farewell to the Bengali year with vibrant Chaitra Sankranti celebrations, blending devotion, folk traditions, and community gatherings across the state.
The final day of the month of Chaitra saw age-old rituals and fairs in towns and villages, underscoring the region’s cultural heritage. In Kalyanpur, Mohorchhara, Ratiya, and Dwarikapur Kalibari, devotees marked the Charak festival with prayers atop the Charak tree, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of traditional drums. The Gajan festival, dedicated to deities including Shiva and Dharma, featured folk songs and performances rooted in agrarian traditions, seeking blessings for rain and respite from the summer heat.
Seasonal fairs drew large crowds, offering bamboo, cane, clay, and metal utensils, toys, and fruits. While circuses and puppet shows have faded from the scene, simpler amusements continue to attract families. Historians note that such fairs may have originated as tax-collection gatherings under zamindars, later evolving into cultural celebrations.
Tripura’s tribal communities also observed their own year-end customs. In the hill districts, indigenous groups celebrated the Biju festival with feasts, music, dance, and rituals honoring elders. The occasion also marked preparations for jhum cultivation ahead of the monsoon.
For Tripura, Chaitra Sankranti is more than a festival—it is a moment of transition. From Charak rituals to Biju feasts, the celebrations highlight the state’s rich cultural fabric, where tradition, agriculture, and community converge to welcome the new year.
