AGARTALA, June 20 (TIWN): Keeping eye on the upcoming 7-day long traditional festival ‘Kharchi Puja’ which will start on July 24 at iconic Chaturdasha Devta Temple premises in Khayerpur, in the outskirts of Agartala, recently various necessary measures has been taken to accomplish the festival successfully and to avoid any kind of poor circumstances for the period.

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

Further, to control the throng of devotees during the ceremonial worship, a drop gate will be installed at the Meghli para transportation road. With an aim to make the transportation from North Champamura to Bridhinagar Panchayat easy for the devotees, the concern department has decided to construct a foot bridge over the Howrah River.

According to the report, few construction works has already been commenced so that the no disruption could occur during the festival tenure. To lighten up the premises without any kind interruption in the power service, the department has decided to install LED street lights in the temple premises and also in the adjacent area.

Reportedly, recently it has been decided that this year the number of the install stalls will be increased. With the joint initiatives of the Block and Fair Committee, drinking water tanks will be install to facilitate the devotees.

During the celebration of weeklong festival, the devotees will also get the opportunity to observe various cultural performances and also a large fair will be organized including different cheerful activities.

During the week-long festival, the idols of 14 Hindu deities - Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesh, Brahma, Abadhi (god of water), Chandra, Ganga, Agni, Kamdev and Himadri (Himalaya) - are kept locked in a room all through the year and are brought out and worshipped.

‘Kharchi’ is derived from ‘khya’ which means ‘earth’ and hence, the festival is also known as the worship of earth. The word Kharchi is copied from two Tripuri words 'Khar' means sin, 'chi' means cleaning. Final meaning is cleaning of the sins of the people or the kingdom.