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Fairs
The
fairs and melas of Tripura are mainly of the religious type. They are:
Baisakhi
mela (discontinued since 1956) held every year at Agartala in the months
of Baisakh under the patronage of the Maharaja himself. Besides local products,
merchandise mainly consisting of wooden chests and implements used to be
imported for sale. Tribals used to make their annual purchases.
Pous-Sankranti
(or Makar Sankranti) mela at Tirthamukh in Amarpur
sub-division attracts a large number of devotees from all parts of the state. The
mela is held at the source of the Gomati river popularly known as Tirthamukh.
The devotees take a holy dip in the river on the day which marks the
commencement of the Sun's northern course- the last day of the month of Pousa
(mid - Jan). Pous-Sankranti mela is also held in other parts of the state of
which mention may be made of Burbaria fair (in Amarpur
sub-division), Mahamanipara fair at Belonia, Muhuripur fair, Radhamadhabipura fair at Kanchanpur in Larmanagar sub-division.
At
Unakotitirtha in Kailashahar sub-division is held the Ashokastami fair
in March-April every year. Thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the
state assemble here to offer Puja to the numerous rock-cut images of gods and
goddesses found on the walls of the Unakoti hill.
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