Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the redeveloped Mata Tripura Sundari Temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas revered by Hindus, in Udaipur, southern Tripura.
A senior Tourism Department official said the 524-year-old shrine has been redeveloped under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism at a cost of over ₹54 crore. Of this, the Central government contributed ₹34.43 crore, while the Tripura government provided ₹17.61 crore.
After virtually laying the foundation stone for 13 development projects worth over ₹5,127 crore in Arunachal Pradesh’s capital Itanagar, the Prime Minister arrived in Agartala and then flew by helicopter to Gomati district headquarters, Udaipur. There, he inaugurated the redeveloped temple complex, located around 65 km south of the state capital.
PM Modi also participated in a 12-km roadshow from Palatana helipad to the temple, where thousands of people — men, women, and children – lined both sides of the road to greet him enthusiastically. Following the inauguration and the unveiling of the beautified temple surroundings, the Prime Minister offered puja at the Kali temple and visited an exhibition showcasing the history, traditions, and cultural significance of the shrine and the royal dynasty of Tripura.
This was PM Modi’s 11th visit to the state and his second visit to the Tripura Sundari temple since becoming Prime Minister in 2014. He previously offered puja at the temple on April 7, 2019. His last visit to Tripura was on April 17, 2024, during the Lok Sabha election campaign.
Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, and several senior officials accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.
In a post on X, CM Manik Saha shared visuals of the newly redeveloped temple complex, “The enchanting nighttime view of the new infrastructure of Mother’s Abode, built under the PRASHAD project, is mesmerising. Blessed by Mother’s grace, it reflects the deep reverence and gratitude of the present government.”
Built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, the Tripura Sundari Temple is considered one of the holiest Shakti Peethas and holds great religious significance. Its sanctum is constructed in the Bengali Ek-Ratna style and is situated on a small hillock shaped like a tortoise’s hump (Kurma), hence the name Kurma Pīṭha.
The sanctum sanctorum houses two black stone idols: the 5-foot-tall idol of Goddess Tripura Sundari and the smaller 2-foot idol of Goddess Chandi, affectionately called Chhoto-Ma (“Little Mother”). Historically, the kings of Tripura carried the smaller idol to battlefields and hunting expeditions.
In a recent boost to the temple’s cultural identity, the Matabari Peda — the sweet offered as prasad — was accorded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
The annual Diwali Mela (fair), held at the temple, is a major cultural and spiritual event that attracts lakhs of devotees every year and significantly boosts the local economy. Officials estimate that with the completion of the redevelopment project, daily pilgrim footfall is expected to double from the current 3,000–3,500 to 5,000–7,000 visitors. This growth is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for local communities, hoteliers, guides, transport operators, and other stakeholders.
(With inputs from IANS)
