AGARTALA, July 11 (TIWN): The seven day long Kharchi festival which is scheduled to begin from July 12 will be inaugurated by Panchayat Minister Manik Dey in presence of Minister Manindra Reang as the chief guest.

Keeping eye on the upcoming 7-day long traditional festival of ‘Kharchi Puja’ which is scheduled to begin on July 12 at iconic Chaturdasha Devta Temple premises at Khayerpur, Deputy Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly Pabitra Kar earlier  held a meeting with the Mela Committee members, Police Personnel and other administrative officials at the BDO block office of old Agartala to accomplish the festival successfully and peacefully at the temple premises. The traditional Kharchi puja will continue for seven days.

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, traffic measures are tightened  for the smooth movement of the pedestrians and the vehicles.  Water drainage system is also be developed in the temple premises area, including the roads and office building region.

To ensure security during the traditional festival, Kharchi Puja at the Old Agartala Block administration, numerous police booths have been installed. To avoid any kind of natural disaster or any fire incident necessary initiatives are taken by the concern authority. Besides, it is decided to deploy about 600 police personnel’s including 100 women police.

12 CCTV cameras are installed from Khayerpur Bridge to the premises of temple. Apart 100 civil defense worker, 250 social service workers and 250 scouts and guides are also deployed for maintaining tight security in the temple.  However, health workers are also deployed to look after health issues of the devotees.

Adequate traffic measures is adopted to control traffic movement on Resham Bagan to Madhavbari road.  However, thinking about the welfare of the devotees two one ways are opened through Kuraebtoari camp-Bridhanagar via Banikya Chowmuhani.  However, Khayerpur Pallimangal School field will accommodate government vehicles, and other vehicles will be parked at Bijay sangha Dashamighat and Bridhanagar Dalura bus  stand.

It is also decided that this year the number of the stalls will also be increased. this year 1100 stalls will be opened in the fair, among them 20 big stalls are allotted for different departments.

Apart from all these, on the occasion of Kharchi puja festival, swimming centre and a resting shed was inaugurated on July 10. 

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

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.