Agartala, 5TH July 2026: The 265th edition of the historic Kharchi Utsav will begin on July 22 this year, with preparations underway for a large-scale celebration that is expected to draw lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad.
MLA Ratan Chakraborty announced that the seven-day-long festival has evolved significantly over time. “There was a time when it was held only in the Raj Andar for the royal family. Later it was observed for tribal communities, and now it has become a festival for everyone, welcoming people from all regions and castes,” he said.
He added that the state government has extended an invitation to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha to inaugurate the event. “We are expecting participation from lakhs of devotees, including visitors from foreign countries. I don’t think any other festival in the North East runs for seven days on such a scale,” he said.
This year’s edition will also feature extensive cultural programmes, continuing a tradition that has seen participation from around 900 artists from across the North East in previous years. Organisers expect similar participation this year as well.Highlighting the festival’s growing national visibility, Chakraborty noted that since 2018 the celebration has been organised in a more structured way to project it at the national level. He also recalled that a tableau on Kharchi Puja was showcased in the Republic Day parade in Delhi, winning second place.
He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have consistently extended greetings on the occasion of Kharchi Puja every year.The theme for this year’s festival is “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” under which 1,000 saplings will be distributed to devotees every day as part of an environmental awareness initiative.
The Kharchi Utsav remains one of Tripura’s most significant cultural and religious gatherings, blending royal traditions, tribal heritage, and modern public participation into a major annual celebration.
