Kharchi Puja

Current Context : Recently, the Prime Minister of India wished everyone, particularly the people of Tripura, on the occasion of Kharchi Puja.

ABOUT

• It is an ancient traditional festival of Tripura and deeply associated with the religious heritage and culture of the region.
• Performed during the Ashadha month (July-August) on the eighth day of the new moon.
• It is It is also known as the Festival of 14 Gods.
• Theme of this year’s Kharchi festival and exhibition is ‘green is the future’.
• The meaning of Kharchi can be understood by splitting the word into two Tripuri words “Khar” or Kharta meaning sin and “Chi” or si meaning Hence it signifies the cleansing of our sins.
• It lasts for seven days and it takes place at old Agartala in the Fourteen Gods temple known as the ‘Chaturdasha Devata’ temple premises.
• The Kharchi Puja deities do not have a full body, they have only heads which are worshipped.
• On the day of the puja, the fourteen Gods are taken from the temple to the river Saidra by the Chantai members and given bathe with the holy river water, then carried back to the temple.