DA Editorial Desk | Dhruba Deka
Every autumn, Tripura changes its face. Markets in Agartala swell with shoppers, pandals rise in neighbourhoods across the state, and the sound of the dhak announces a season that is as much about commerce as devotion. Durga Puja is more than a religious festival here. It is one of the busiest economic periods of the year, when households spend freely on clothes, sweets, gifts, travel and decoration. The pressing question for policymakers and citizens alike is a simple one: when the festive money changes hands, how much of it stays in Tripura?
The answer matters because the scale of spending is considerable. Families buy new clothes for every member, often weeks in advance. Sweet shops, caterers and restaurants run at full capacity. Idol makers, who spend months shaping clay and straw, finally see their work displayed. Decorators, lighting workers, drummers, priests, flower sellers and transport operators all find work in these few weeks. For many of them, the festive season supplies a large share of annual income.
Yet a closer look reveals an uneven picture. Much of what fills the shelves of Tripura’s markets is not made here. Garments, footwear, cosmetics, electronics, lighting equipment and even a large portion of decorative material are brought in from outside the state, often by large wholesalers. A shopper may feel they are supporting the local market, but a significant part of the money leaves with the supplier. The local shopkeeper earns a margin, but the manufacturing profit, along with the jobs that come with it, belongs to someone else.
Tripura’s own artisans deserve better. The state has a living tradition of handloom, handicrafts and bamboo and cane work, and its products are admired for their quality and design. The Risa and Pachra textiles woven by tribal women, and the intricate bamboo goods made across the hills and plains, could easily find a place in every festive shopping bag. Yet they are often confined to government emporiums and occasional fairs, with limited marketing, weak packaging and little reach beyond the state. When demand peaks, these artisans are rarely in a position to capitalise.
Idol makers face their own struggles. The cost of clay, bamboo, straw, paint and decorative materials has risen, while the prices paid by puja committees have not always kept pace. Many artisans work on advance payments that cover only part of their costs, and delayed settlements are not uncommon. Several are forced to borrow from moneylenders at steep interest to complete orders in time. A festival that celebrates creation should not leave its creators in debt.
There is also the matter of the unorganised workforce. Casual labourers, street vendors, rickshaw pullers and temporary workers keep the festival machinery running, but they have no safety net. A rainy week can wipe out a vendor’s earnings. Overcrowded markets and temporary structures also raise safety concerns that deserve more attention than they usually receive.
What can be done? First, the government and municipal bodies should treat the festive season as a planned economic opportunity rather than an administrative burden. Dedicated festival bazaars for local artisans and self-help groups, with subsidised stalls and fair allocation, would give Tripura’s producers direct access to buyers. Promoting a recognisable local brand, backed by simple quality marks and attractive packaging, can turn handloom and bamboo products into preferred festive gifts.
Second, puja committees, which command considerable community trust and funds, can set an example. Sourcing decorations, lighting labour and materials locally wherever possible, and paying idol makers and workers promptly and fairly, would keep more money circulating within the state. Corporate sponsors and local businesses could be encouraged to back committees that adopt such practices.
Third, access to credit must improve. Short-term, low-interest loans for idol makers, weavers and small traders, timed ahead of the festive season, would free them from the grip of informal lenders. Digital payment systems and quicker settlement of dues can further reduce their vulnerability.
Finally, consumers have a role. A deliberate choice to buy a handwoven fabric, a bamboo lamp or sweets from a neighbourhood shop is a small act with real consequences. Collectively, such choices can strengthen the ecosystem that sustains the festival itself.
Durga Puja will always be about faith, community and celebration. But it can also be an engine of local prosperity if the state plans for it and citizens support it. Tripura should aim for a season in which the joy of the festival is matched by the security of those who make it possible. The money is already being spent. The task is to make sure it works for Tripura.