Agartala, July 22 — Maintaining centuries-old traditions, elaborate rituals and colourful ceremonies, the historic ‘Kharchi Puja’ commenced on Wednesday at 'Puran Habeli' -- the former capital of the erstwhile princely state of Tripura, now known as Khayerpur, about 8 kms north of Agartala.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, accompanied by other dignitaries, inaugurated the seven-day-long fair and ‘Kharchi Puja’, during which 14 deities are worshipped simultaneously in one of the state’s most revered and unique religious festivals.

Lakhs of devotees and tourists from different parts of the country are expected to participate in the week-long fair and the centuries-old festival, which began amid traditional rituals, religious fervour and cultural festivities.

The annual Kharchi Puja and the accompanying fair are traditionally believed to symbolise the cleansing of the sins of mortal souls.

Kharchi Puja and Mela Committee Chairman Ratan Chakraborty, who is also a former Minister, said that lakhs of devotees and tourists from across the country participate in the unique festival and its associated rituals every year.

Chakraborty, a former Speaker of the Tripura Assembly, expressed hope that if the weather remains favourable, this year's turnout would surpass that of the previous year.

He said that with the objective of building a greener Tripura, this year’s Kharchi Festival has adopted the theme “Ek Ped, Maa Ke Naam” (A Tree in Mother’s Name). As part of the initiative, saplings of various species would be distributed free of cost to visitors attending the seven-day Kharchi Fair through a government initiative.

The MLA, however, said that owing to the prevailing situation in neighbouring Bangladesh, the number of visitors from across the border is likely to be lower than in previous years. Originally a festival of the indigenous Tripuri community, the seven-day-long Kharchi Puja has, over the years, evolved into a festival celebrated by people of all communities and religions, reflecting Tripura’s rich tradition of communal harmony and social inclusiveness.

The festival is marked by colourful marquees, decorative illumination, religious rites and the chanting of Vedic mantras amid the rhythmic beats of traditional drums.

Fourteen deities are worshipped during the festival -- Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesha, Brahma, Abadhi (the God of Water), Chandra, Ganga, Agni, Kamdev and Himadri (the Himalayas).

Animal sacrifice offered by devotees forms an integral part of the ‘Kharchi Puja’ rituals. Another unique feature of the festival is that the fourteen Deities enshrined in the historic temple are represented only by their sacred heads rather than full-bodied idols, making the centuries-old worship distinct from most other Hindu traditions.

In keeping with centuries-old tradition, the week-long festival begins with a colourful procession in which the idols of the deities are ceremonially taken out, accompanied by the Tripura Police band.

The deities and priests are escorted by Tripura Police personnel, who also present a ceremonial guard of honour to the Chief Royal Priest, popularly known as the Raj Chantaia, underscoring the festival’s royal legacy. On October 15, 1949, Tripura came under the administration of the Government of India after the merger agreement was signed between the then Regent Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi and the Governor-General of India.

The merger agreement made it mandatory for the Tripura government to continue sponsoring 14 temples and their associated religious ceremonies, including the Kharchi Puja and the revered Mata Tripura Sundari Temple -- one of the country’s 51 Shakti Peethas -- which had long been patronised by the erstwhile Hindu princely rulers.

In accordance with the merger agreement, the Tripura government has continued to bear the expenses of the Kharchi Puja and related rituals for the past several decades. For more than 78 years, until 1838, Puran Habeli served as the capital of the erstwhile undivided kingdom of Tripura, whose territory then extended into large parts of present-day Sylhet, Brahmanbaria and Comilla districts of Bangladesh.

King Krishna Manikya Bahadur (1760-1783) shifted the capital from Udaipur in southern Tripura to Puran Habeli in 1760, and the temple of the 14 deities, constructed during his reign, continues to stand as a symbol of the state's rich historical and cultural heritage.

In 1838, King Krishna Kishore Manikya Bahadur (1830-1849) shifted the capital from Puran Habeli to Agartala, which has since remained Tripura’s capital.

On the occasion of the traditional Kharchi Festival, Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu and Chief Minister Manik Saha extended their greetings to the people of the state. In his message, the Governor described Kharchi Puja as one of Tripura's most popular festivals and expressed hope that it would bring joy, love, happiness, peace, prosperity and a spirit of brotherhood among the people.

In his greeting message, Chief Minister Saha said that the traditional Kharchi Festival has, for generations, symbolised communal harmony, goodwill, unity and social integration. He noted that the festival, which embodies Tripura's rich cultural heritage and age-old traditions, has earned special recognition across the Northeastern region.

The Chief Minister further said that with the wholehearted participation of people from all communities, irrespective of caste, tribe, religion or creed, the Kharchi Festival has evolved into a grand celebration of universal harmony, social unity and cultural coexistence.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujitchakrabortyne@gmail.com)

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