AGARTALA, July 2 (TIWN): The 7-day long traditional festival Kharchi Puja will start on July 5 and would continue till July 11 at the iconic Chaturdasha Devta temple premises in Khayerpur, outskirts of Agartala.

To ensure the security during the traditional festival Kharchi Puja, the Old Agartala block administration today conducted a preparatory meeting at the block office premises. During the meeting, various decisions were taken to avoid any kind of circumstances for the period of the festival, an official confirmed today.

According the Chantai history, Kharchi Puja is one of the most traditional festivals of Tripura, celebrated in the month of July. Kharchi Puja is a celebration spread over 7 days where people come together to worship and offer prayers to mother earth for sustaining life of mankind with her rich natural resources. The main celebration takes place at the iconic Chaturdasha Devta temple premises in Khayerpur, outskirts of Agartala. A large fair is also organized on the occasion. People seek their welfare as well as the welfare of the society and the state in general.

The fourteen gods are worshipped by the royal priest Chantai. They are all Tripuri by birth, and it is hereditary one. 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.

The festival will be inaugurated by the Chief Secretary S K Panda at Krishnamala Mancha on July 5 while the secretary of Tourism Department- Ashutosh Jindal will attend the inaugural ceremony as chief guest. The District Magistrate (West) - Abhishek Singh and the secretary of Information and Cultural Department- Santanu Das will remain present as guest of honour. The Director of Information and Cultural Department- U K Chakma will grace the dais as special guest. The Old Agartala block administration is all set to observe the festival, said an official, here today.