AGARTALA, June 10 (TIWN): One of the biggest festivals of Tripura, Kharchi Puja will start from July 24 this year. The festival will continue for seven days. However in order to make this festival a grand one, preparatory meeting was held at Old Agartala Block premises under the leadership of Deputy Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly, Pabitra Kar. Among the other members who were present were Chairman and Vice Chairman of Old Agartala Block, authorities of different sectors like health, fire service, DWS .

Kharchi Puja is observed at the Chaturdas Devata Temple at Old Agartala or Purana Haveli. The deities are originally tribal and were later adapted into the Hindu fold. All the deities have their names in Kok-borok, the tribal language. It is observed on the Shukla Paksha Ashtami day in Ashad Month.

The fourteen deities worshipped at the temple are Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Kartikeya, Ganesha, Earth, Ganga, Agni, Kama, Himavan (lord of mountains) and Varuna (god of ocean). The popular and local names of the Fourteen Gods are Hara, Uma, Hari, Ma, Vani, Kumara, Ganapa, Bidhi, Kha, Abdi, Ganga, Sikhi, Kama and Himadri.

Interestingly, eleven of the deities are brought out only during the Kharchi Puja. Rest of the year they remain behind the closed doors.

 Kharchi Puja is a weeklong festival. The pujas and rituals are conducted by tribal priests and the main priest is called ‘Chantai.’ The main features of the festivals in Tripura is that, whether a festival is basically tribal or not, all people regardless tribals and non-tribals will join it in a joyous mood and be part and parcel of it.