Agartala: Durga Puja began all over Tripura since Sunday evening amid tight security, while the state administration offered a special puja tour from chopper at low-cost round the clock.
Replica of temple, prominent buildings, Himalayan ice caps, conservation of environment and biodiversity, have become the different themes of Durga Puja pandals.
A number of organisers have launched awareness on International Year of Forestry (IYF) this time.
Shantipara Yuba Sangstha, an organisation of business community of Agartala, has made a pandal with a theme on conservation of forestry and displayed hundreds of representation of available wildlife, flora and fauna exclusively found in Tripura.
Nataraj Datta, one of the organisers and officer in-charge of Tripura state space application centre, told UNI that they had displayed the model forestry around the lake with continuous announcement on conservation of bio-resources and generation of green forestry and against increasing trend of burning of fossil fuel.
He pointed out with the call of UNO, the entire world was celebrating IYF over the year in different manners but as a club Durga Puja was the best option to vow for eco-sustainability and launch campaign for conservation of natural resources.
Over 2,000 community Durga pujas, including 350 in Agartala, have been organised this year in Tripura, said Deputy Inspector General Nepal Das, adding more than 10,000 men in uniform along with Quick Response Team (QRT), sufficient watch towers, more than 100 CCTV, sniffer dogs and bomb squad had been pressed into action to hold peaceful Durga Puja.
“Border security and highway patrolling has been enhanced while metal detectors have been installed in all major puja pendals in all the towns and mechanised entry gates were set up around Agartala to avert any subversive activities,” Das said, adding traffic movements were also restricted in all major city roads till late night to facilitate the devotees.
Meanwhile, Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) has pressed Pawan Hans helicopter into service at Rs 500 for each person to watch Durga puja and illumination from the sky, besides getting an aerial view of Tripura and neighbouring country. (UNI)