Kharchi Puja begins with religious fervor and éclat

Agartala, Jul 08, 2011 : The week long festival of ‘Kharchi Puja’ began here at Khayerpur with religious pomp and gaiety on Friday morning.

The worship of the 14 Gods and Goddess began after ritual ablution at river Howrah in the morning. 

Later, Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chaudhury inaugurated the festival and a fair.

Giving details of the festival, Pabitra Kar, chairman of the festival committee said, about 700 stalls were distributed to vendors, small and medium business establishments including those from West Bengal and Assam traders.

Several cultural and folks programmes would be performed by various artists every night, said Kar adding that massive security arrangement were made along with voluntary services for the devotees.

Kharchi Puja symbolizes a unique mixture of Hinduism and animism as the 14 gods and goddess are identified by both the faiths with different names. The puja is performed by tribal priest ‘Chantai’ and basically a tribal religious ritual. But at the same time it is also virtually a Hindu Puja with lakhs of devotees from both the tribal and non-tribal communities thronging and taking part in the religious activities. Kharchi also symbolizes the age old unity of both tribal and non-tribal people of the state.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in his greeting said the festival would strengthen the bond of friendship.