tripura-durgabari-s-two-armed-durga-puja-enters-148th-year

The ancient Durgabari Temple in Agartala, Tripura, is set to mark its 148th Durga Puja this year, a celebration steeped in royal tradition and unique worship customs.

 

Unlike most Durga Pujas, where a ten-armed goddess is venerated, Durgabari is home to the worship of a two-handed Goddess Durga—a practice that has continued for centuries.

 

The origins of this tradition date back to Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya Bahadur, who first initiated Durga Puja in what is now Chittagong, Bangladesh, approximately 500 years ago.

 

The royal family carried the worship from Chittagong to various locations, including Amarpur in Gumati and Udaipur, before settling permanently in Agartala.

 

According to the temple’s chief priest, Jayanta Bhattacharjee, it was Maharani Sulakshana Devi who influenced this rare form of worship.

 

"Long ago, Maharani Sulakshana Devi had fainted after seeing a ten-handed goddess at Durgabari and was taken back to the palace. On the same night, she received a divine message to worship a two-handed goddess instead of a ten-handed goddess from next year. Since then, we have been worshipping a two-handed goddess at Durgabari," Bhattacharjee explained.

 

During the festival, the goddess is offered prasad which includes meat, fish, and eggs—an offering that reflects both royal customs and local beliefs.

 

Vegetarian offerings like rice and vegetables are also part of the ritual, ensuring a diverse spread of prasad.

 

This year’s Durga Puja, held from 9 to 12 October, continues to include royal tributes. The idol is brought to the royal palace before immersion, where the Manikya dynasty’s descendants pay their respects.

 

A gun salute from the Tripura State Rifles and the playing of the national anthem mark the goddess’s immersion, an honour that connects the festival’s ancient roots with its modern-day celebrations.

 

The 148-year-old puja at Durgabari Temple stands as a powerful symbol of the region’s rich cultural and royal heritage, bringing together centuries of tradition in devotion to the unique two-armed goddess.