By TC News Desk
Agartala, 25th June 2024: The historic week-long Kharchi Puja and Festival in Tripura will begin on July 14 at the Chaturdasa Devata Temple in Old Agartala.
This revered festival celebrates the worship of the Chaturdasa Devata, the ancestral deities of the Tripuri community.
In a press conference, Khayerpur MLA and former Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Ratan Chakraborty, announced that Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, along with Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, will inaugurate the festival. The closing ceremony will feature Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath and Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma.
“All necessary preparations for the puja and accompanying fair are in full swing. With the cooperation of various departments and the local community, we aim to ensure the success of this event. Over 500 stalls are expected to be set up,” said Chakraborty.
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Green Future.’ We plan to plant and distribute over 15,000 saplings to devotees,” Chakraborty informed.Chakraborty highlighted the national and international appeal of Kharchi Puja, with visitors from across India and Bangladesh participating in the festivities.
“The tourism department is actively promoting Kharchi Puja. Last year, we had over 900 cultural performers from other states and Bangladesh, and we expect even more this year. Food stalls and accommodations for visiting saints have been arranged. Last year, we saw over 2 million visitors,” he noted.
To ensure smooth proceedings, heavy vehicles will be restricted from the area and must park at the inter-state truck terminus. “We will deploy medical teams, over 100 Scouts and Guides, and more than 800 Tripura State Rifles Jawans to maintain law and order,” Chakraborty added.
