Agartala, Oct. 28: The Tripura Sundari temple in Udaipur town of Gomati district is gearing up for Kali Puja and Diwali.

The fabled temple had been built by Tripura's King Dhanya Manikya (1490-1520) in the year 1501 on a tract of elevated land in the southwestern corner of Udaipur town. It is considered one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

The temple has always attracted devotees, saints and tantriks from far and wide. Even the Shankaracharyas of Sringeri Matha and Kanchipuram Matha from south India have visited the temple to perform yagnas and worship goddess Kali. There was a time when human sacrifices were performed in the temple but the practice was stopped during the rule of King Gobinda Manikya (1660-1667, 1671-78) .

"Religious rituals are performed but we also organise cultural programmes and a fair around the temple to make the occasion memorable," said Subrata Deb, former chairman of the Udaipur Municipal Corporation.

A cultural programme started last evening and will continue till tomorrow night. A number of leading artistes and musicians of the state have been invited to perform in the programme.

"The most important part of the three-day cultural programme is the indigenous dances that will be performed by tribal artistes. The traditional tribal dances like hozagiri, lebang bumani, mamithaa, will be performed today and tomorrow," said Deb, who is also the chairperson of the Diwali festival celebration committee.

The entire temple has been lit up tastefully. A large number of people from the Jamatya community come to offer prayers.

The Tripura Sundari temple is maintained by the state and the district magistrate of Gomati is the ex officio "chief sevait" of the temple.

"A full-grown buffalo will be sacrificed tomorrow night. Besides, every day the district magistrate pays for the sacrifice of two billy goats besides supplying other materials for the puja according to the instrument of accession signed on September 9, 1947, by which erstwhile princely Tripura became part of the Indian Union," Deb said.

He said according to the terms of the instrument of accession, the state government is duty-bound to meet the expenses of worship in temples earlier patronised by the king. "Security is tight all around and within the temple and we hope tomorrow's festival of lights will pass off peacefully and smoothly," said Deb.#