Tripura Diary : Tripura Sundari Temple

The Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur was something I didn’t know much about until my team and I found a hotel nearby. We had just arrived in Udaipur, Tripura, for a week-long North-East Chess Tournament (December 17-21). When we got to the Udaipur Railway Station, I was surprised by its palace-like structure. I couldn’t believe I was in North-East India and not in Rajasthan!

There were 45 chess players in total, along with over 60 parents cheering us on. Our team from Singtam included nine players from Mt. Zion Academy and East Point SSS. While looking for hotels, we stumbled upon the footsteps of Mata Bari, the home of the Tripura Sundari Temple, which is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The area around the temple reminded me of Chaurasta in Darjeeling, and there were plenty of shops selling Pera, a sweet that devotees like to offer as prasadam.

Nearby, we discovered Kalyan Sagar, a lovely pond filled with different kinds of fish and tortoises. Devotees often feed the fish in the pond. We were told that we shouldn’t miss the Sandhya Aarati, which is a special evening prayer service. On the last evening of our stay at Mata Bari, we visited the temple.

We arrived at the temple around 6 PM, just in time for the aarti. We gave our offerings to the pujari (priest) along with our names and gotra (clan) that we bought from one of the shops. People of all ages, mostly women, were sitting in front of the statue of Mata. We joined them and listened to the beautiful sounds of clapping, drumbeats, and ringing bells during the aarti. Afterward, we bowed our heads and received blessings from the goddess.

The temple is on a hill shaped like a tortoise, known as Kurmapṛṣṭhākṛti, which adds to its spiritual importance. According to legend, a part of Sati's right foot fell here, making it one of the Shakti Peethas. The main shrine was built in 1501 CE by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya and features the Bengali Ek-Ratna architectural style. Inside, there are two black stone idols: the larger one of Tripura Sundari, which is 5 feet tall, and the smaller one, Chhoto-Ma (Little Mother), representing Goddess Chandi, which stands at 2 feet.

Visiting the Tripura Sundari Temple was a memorable experience, filled with beauty, spirituality, and culture!

Singtam Chess Players Shine at 22nd North East FIDE Chess Tournament

 25.12.24, Singtam: The young chess players of the town of Singtam have made a significant impact at the 22nd North East FIDE Chess Tournament held at the Sports Complex in Udaipur from December 17 to 21, 2024.

Manasvi Acharya and Palak Agarwal, students from Mount Zion School, finished third in the Under 11 girl’s category and fifth in the Under 9 girls’ category, respectively. Additionally, three players from Singtam—Arnav Rai, Ayan Rai, and Akshay Anand received ratings under classical chess norms.

A total of nine players represented Mount Zion School and East Point Senior Secondary School. The players' scores were as follows: Ayan Rai: 5/9, Manasvi Acharya: 4.5/9, Suyog Shital Pradhan: 4.5/9, Yedhant Agarwal: 4/9, Aarav Pradhan: 3/9, Prashanti Dhungel: 2.5/9 and Palak Agarwal: 2/9 (all from Mount Zion School); Akshay Anand: 4.5/9 and Dhrubajyoti Saha: 2.5/9 (both from East Point Senior Secondary School).

These talented players are part of the Knight Chess Academy in Singtam, coached by Rohit Gurung.

Dongeythang Primary School's Annual Day Celebrations

December 12, Singtam: Dongeythang Primary School celebrated its Annual Day joyfully and enthusiastically. The highlights included the distribution of felicitations, mementoes, certificates, and cultural and sports events. Shri Suresh Kumar Tamang, President of Singtam Nagar Panchayat, and Shri Uttam Pradhan, a Cinestar and Sikkim State Awardee, were the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, respectively.

Other distinguished guests present on the occasion included Shri Sherap Dorjee Bhutia, President of CLC; Smt. Dhan Maya Sharma; Smt. YM Sharma; heads of different schools; former retired teachers; officials from Panchayats and ICDS; members of SMCs; the Parent Teacher Association; school staff; parents; and students. Suresh Tamang, the Chief Guest of the day, addressed the audience, encouraging parents to enroll their children in government schools to avail themselves of various scholarships. He also appreciated the school for organizing different initiatives for the betterment of the students.

Uttam Pradhan, a Nepali film celebrity, stated in his speech that he was never a trained actor or dancer but attributed his success to his former school and teachers for building his career through school events and programs. He emphasized the importance of better facilities provided to government schools. OP Niroula, AEO of the Education Department, Khamdong BAC, spoke about various scholarship schemes offered by the education department. The cultural program and sports events saw participation from students, and activities for the audience were also organized.

Shital Pradhan, Headmaster of the school, shared the annual report, highlighting the achievements of the students and outlining the school's requirements for the coming session. As part of the celebrations, Chief Guest Suresh Kumar Tamang also visited the school’s heritage museum, which houses a collection of old heritage items of daily use, reflecting the rich cultural history of the region. Karma Rinzing Bhutia was the host of the day, while Bhim Prasad Dahal and Passang Phuti Lepcha delivered the welcome speech and the vote of thanks.

The following students received mementoes: The following students received mementoes: School Topper: Master Bimochan Dahal (Class PS3, 91%), Students of the Year: Miss Akriti Sapkota (Class IV), 100% Attendance: Miss Bipashna Dahal (Class IV), Master Ram Dangal (Class III), and Miss Youngmit Lepcha (Class I), Best Speaker: Miss Eden Tamang (Class III), Best Lepcha Language Student: Master Passang Tshering Lepcha (Class II).