Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said that Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra is a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage, social harmony and the spirit of "unity in diversity", urging people to carry the festival's message of equality, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence into their daily lives.
Inaugurating the nine-day traditional Rath Yatra festival at the historic Jagannath Bari in Melaghar under Sepahijala district, the Chief Minister described the festival as a universal celebration that brings people of all faiths together and strengthens communal harmony.
The festival has been jointly organised by the Sepahijala District Administration, the Information and Cultural Affairs Department and the Melaghar Municipal Council. Addressing a large gathering, Saha said the annual chariot festival signifies Lord Jagannath stepping out of the temple to bless devotees, conveying the timeless message that people from all religions and communities should live together in peace and harmony.
“The Rath Yatra is not merely a religious festival but a celebration of India's cultural ethos, social unity and communal harmony. It encourages cultural exchange and reinforces the bonds of brotherhood among people,” he said. Highlighting the festival's national and global significance, the Chief Minister said the Rath Yatra in Puri is the country's most celebrated chariot festival, while similar grand celebrations are held at Mahesh and Mayapur in West Bengal.
He added that through ISKCON, the festival has now become a global event, showcasing India's spiritual and cultural traditions across the world. Saha stressed the importance of preserving India's civilisational heritage and urged the younger generation to remain rooted in the country's rich cultural traditions while embracing modernity.
Referring to the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana and Skanda Purana, he said the significance of Rath Yatra has been documented in ancient Hindu scriptures. The Chief Minister also highlighted the Centre's initiatives for preserving and developing religious heritage sites across the country.
He cited projects such as the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, the Somnath Temple, the Char Dham pilgrimage centres, the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and the Buddhist Circuit. He said the Tripura government has also been actively promoting religious tourism and conserving heritage sites, including the redevelopment of the Tripura Sundari Temple under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme and ongoing restoration works at Chaturdasha Devata Bari and Kasbeswari Temple.
Describing the Melaghar Rath Yatra as one of the most prominent celebrations in the Northeast, Saha said the nine-day fair not only preserves centuries-old traditions but also provides a significant boost to the local economy by generating livelihood opportunities for traders, artisans and small businesses.
Higher Education Minister Kishore Barman said the Rath Yatra reflects Tripura's history, culture, emotions and social unity, noting that people from all communities have participated in the festival for generations. The Melaghar Rath Yatra traces its origins to the erstwhile princely state of Tripura.
The present Jagannath Temple was established by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya in 1905. Following the Partition of India, the deity and the temple tradition were shifted to Melaghar, where the festival has continued uninterrupted. Today, the Melaghar Rath Yatra is regarded as one of the oldest and largest chariot festivals in Northeast India.
Its towering 58-foot wooden chariot, among the tallest in the country, attracts thousands of devotees and visitors every year from across the Northeast as well as neighbouring Bangladesh, making it one of Tripura's most significant religious and cultural events.