AGARTALA, July 21 (TIWN): On the auspicious occasion of 7-day long traditional festival Kharchi Puja which will begin on July 24 at the iconic Chaturdasha Devta temple premises in Khayerpur, outskirts of Agartala, Governor Tathagata Roy has extended his warm greetings to the people of the state.

In his message to the people of the state, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy has extended good wishes and warm greetings to all the citizens of the state.

He further expressed his desire to people that this festival will enriches the lives with tradition of giving and sharing with a spirit of brotherhood. He also wished that may this festival reinforce the commitment of the citizens of the state towards mutual harmony.

During the festival huge crowd could be witnessed in the iconic Chaturdasha Devta temple premises in Khayerpur at the outskirts of Agartala.

Besides, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar also extended his warm wishes to the people of the state. He wished that on this auspicious occasion may reinforce the commitment of the citizens of the state towards mutual harmony.

Kharchi puja is the worship of the dynasty deity of Tripuri people, the fourteen gods. The fourteen gods are worshipped by the royal priest Chantai. Only members of chantai family descendants are allowed to take the post of Chantai, since the time it had started for more than 3000 years ago, and it is still continuing till date.

The fourteen deities are; Hara, Uma, Hari, Maa, Bani, Kumar, Ganesh, Brahma, Prithi, Ganga, Abdi, Kamesh and Himadri.

‘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.