AGARTALA, June 26 (TIWN): Keeping eye on the upcoming 7-day long traditional festival of ‘Kharchi Puja’ which is scheduled to begin on July 24 at iconic Chaturdasha Devta Temple premises at Khayerpur, Deputy Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly, Pabitra Kar held a meeting with the Mela Committee members, Police Personnel and other administrative officials at the Panchayat Samiti Hall of old Agartala to accomplish the festival successfully and peacefully at the temple premises.

The seven day long traditional Kharchi puja will continue till 30th July.

Addressing the meeting, the deputy Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly, Pabitra Kar said that day by day the rush of the devotees are increasing and to ensure convenient movement of the devotees, the roads will be renovated on 15th July for the smooth movement of the pedestrians and the vehicles.  Water drainage system will also be developed in the temple premises area, including the roads and office building region.

For safety conduct of the fair, police and traffic will be deployed to look after the smooth conduct of the festival.

To ensure security during the traditional festival, Kharchi Puja at the Old Agartala Block administration, numerous police booths will be installed. To avoid any kind of natural disaster or any fire incident necessary initiatives will be taken by the concern authority. Besides, it is decided to deploy more than 100 civil defense workers to keep check over the rushed crowd at the temple premises, said Pabitra kar.

Further, to control the throng of devotees during the ceremonial worship, a drop gate will be installed at the Meghli para transportation road.

To lighten up the premises without any kind interruption in the power service, the department has decided to install 50 LED street lights in the temple premises from Khayerpur Bridge to old Agartala.

It is also decided that this year the number of the stalls will also be increased. 20 to 25 stall will be set up by the government department.  With the joint initiatives of the Block and Fair Committee, drinking water tanks will be install to facilitate the devotees.

Further, Pabitra Kar also said that restriction will also be imposed on the travelling of heavy vehicles on the national highway during the festival from morning 9 to 1 PM and evening 4 to11 in the night to avoid congestion of traffic on the road. As a part of the traffic control measures Transport department Inspector and vigilance team will remain present to check if the driver charges hiked fare from the passengers.

Cultural program will also be organized with the initiative of ICA department.

The Kharchi Mela committee is constituted of 151 people and there are all together 48 members in the working committee.

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