A controversy arose regarding the celebration of the “Tring Utsav” on Monday in Tripura after Jamatia Hoda opposed it saying that several cultural organizations and NGOs are imposing the festival on the tribes of Tripura.
The “Tring Utsav” celebrated to mark the Tripuri New Year, is scheduled to take place on Monday night at Joying Mini stadium in Killa in South Tripura district.
Jamatia is a social organization that works to safeguard the culture and rights of the people of the Jamatia community.
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Jamatia Hoda’s advisor Bichitra Jamatia said, “Those trying to destroy our culture and heritage are imposing the Tring Festival on the different tribes in the state.”
“The festival was celebrated for the first time at Khowai in the state in 1992 under the influence of an extremist group,” he said.
Some tribes of Tripura believe that the New Year begins on December 22 as per the Tipra Era calendar, which was first used in 590 AD during the reign of Maharaja Jujarufa, whose descendants later assumed the Manikya title.
However, many elders believe that the ‘Tripura era’ started from the first day of ‘Baishak’.
BJP MLA Rampad Jamatia, has written a letter to the state deputy chief minister, Jishnu Dev Varma saying that certain NGOs and parties have given consent to be a part of the festival.
“Some anti-social elements are trying to create confusion regarding the festival among the public,” he said.