Thousands of devotees and visitors are heading to the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Tripura, for its Diwali festival.
The temple expects over 10 lakh visitors from across the country. Ten lakh means one million people.
To make the trip easier, the Northeast Frontier Railway has introduced two special train services.
One runs between Agartala and Sabroom, and back. The other runs between Agartala and Dharmanagar, and back.
Key points
- Over 10 lakh visitors are expected for the three-day Diwali festival.
- The Northeast Frontier Railway has launched two special train services.
- The routes are Agartala to Sabroom and Agartala to Dharmanagar, both with return trips.
- Chief Minister Manik Saha will inaugurate the festival on Sunday evening.
Why does this festival draw so many people?
The temple is about 525 years old. It stands in Udaipur, about 64 km south of Agartala.
It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, which are holy shrines linked to the Hindu goddess Shakti.
Maharaja Dhanya Manikya built the temple in 1501.
Local MLA Abhishek Debroy says it is one of the largest Diwali celebrations in the Northeast.
He expects a record number of women visitors.
What is new at the festival this year?
A drone show will be the highlight of the opening evening. The temple complex will also have government exhibition stalls.
They will show Tripura's heritage, culture and local food.
A sand sculpture of the temple, placed on a tortoise, is another attraction.
It shows the temple's religious and cultural identity. The temple was redeveloped at a cost of over Rs 54 crore.
The Union government gave Rs 34.43 crore and the Tripura government added Rs 17.61 crore.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
What happens next for visitors?
The three-day festival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday evening.
District Magistrate Rinku Lather has confirmed that all preparations are complete.
Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury welcomed the train services.
He said they would greatly benefit devotees visiting the temple.
Explainer
What happened before
- Maharaja Dhanya Manikya built the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in 1501.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped temple on September 22, 2025.
- The redevelopment cost over Rs 54 crore under the Union Tourism Ministry's PRASHAD scheme.
Why it matters
The festival is one of the largest Diwali celebrations in the Northeast, and the special trains are meant to make the journey convenient and safe.
What to watch next
- The three-day festival opens with the Chief Minister's inauguration on Sunday evening.
- A drone show is planned for the inaugural evening.
