Tripura: All you need to know about the festival of 14 Gods- Kharchi Puja!

TNT Desk | July 20, 2018

AGARTALA: The traditional Kharchi Puja, one of the centuries-old tribal customs in Tripura has begun today. The word Kharchi is derived from the word Khya which means earth. Kharchi Puja is basically done to worship the earth. All of rituals are of tribal origin, which includes worshipping of fourteen gods and mother earth. 

Here are 5 interesting facts you should know about Kharchi Puja:

• Kharchi Puja is one of the greatest festival of Tripura and Tripuris. It is a religious festival in which fourteen Gods and Goddesses are worshiped and dipped in the Howrah River before dawn. The fourteen gods and goddesses are Hara, Uma, Hari, Bani, Kumar, Ganpa, bidhi, Ma, Himadri, Abdhi, Shili, Kom, Budachha and Laksmi. Kharchi Puja starts on the full moon day of the month of July and continues for seven days.
• The worship is performed by the priest called chautai. Goats, Pigeons, Buffaloes are sacrificed in this Puja.
• Any priest whose wife is menstruating is prohibited to perform any auspicious or religious function.So after the menstruation of mother earth during Ama pechi, the earth is considered to become unholy. The kharchi puja is performed to wash out the sins. That is why it is performed for seven consecutive days.
• According to the history, mother of Trilochan, king of Tripura saved the 14 dieties who were chased by a wild buffalo. Later the deities killed the buffalo with her assistance.
• Kharchi Puja might be called the state festival of Tripura. The people of various tribes and communities and also the Bengalese and Indigenous people of India participate in this famous Kharchi Puja festival.