Mismanagement in ‘Hozagiri’ dance festival in Santir Bazar, public resentment

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 9, 2025

The ‘Hozagiri’ dance of the Reang tribal community of Tripura has already become cultural brand, not only of Tripura but also of the country . In fact the performing of ‘Hozagiri’ dance is now a part and parcel of the Indian cultural troupe in international events. But a festival connected on this dance sparked a controversy yesterday in Santir Bazar subdivision of south Tripura district.

The two day ‘Hozagiri’ dance festival had commenced yesterday on the play-field in front of Bogafa HS school. Apart from the chief minister who formally inaugurated the two-day festival, the opening programme was also attended by the minister for co-operative Shukla Charan Noatia, MLA Pramod Reang, the south district ‘Zilla Sabhadhipati’ Dipak Datta and other VIPs.

But the inaugural programme was marred by gross mismanagement manifested in lack of seats for spectators, lack of parking space and absence of volunteers to regulate the inflow of spectators . Sources from Santir Bazar said that the government had sanctioned a considerable amount for smooth management of the fair but those in the fair committee had extorted exorbitant amounts from small artisans and traders who had opened stalls and shops in the fair ground.

Apart from this, the non-invitation to the local elected member of district council (MDC) Sanjib Reang has also created serious resentment among the people belonging to the Reang tribal community. Sanjib Reang is considerably popular in the area and local people said that since ‘Hozagiri’ is basically a festival of the Reang people the MDC should have been invited. Even though the festival commenced normally a lot of people have decided to bring all the information about mismanagement and lack of etiquette tp the notice of the chief minister Dr Manik Saha in a memorandum.

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