Kharchi Puja is one of the major festivals of the state of
Tripura. It is often reffered to as 'Chaturdash' or 'Chaudda Devata Puja'. The
'Chaturdash Devata' or 'Chaudda Devatas bari, is place where this festival fair
is held in Old Agartala.
'Chaturdash Devata' was the family deities of the former
rulers of Tripura and old Agartala was the capital of their kingdom. Kharchi
Puja begins in the month of Ashar (June-July) that falls on the eighth day of
the moonlit period (Suklastami). This festival continues for seven days. As per
the legend there was a king named Tripur who ruled this land and after whose
name the state is called Tripura. The king was very cruel and oppressive
towards his subjects. To free themselves from the tyranny of the King, the
subjects worshiped Lord Shiva and offered prayers to Him. Lord was pleased and
He killed the king.
The Lord said that the queen of Tripur, 'Harabati' would
bear a son, who would be the next King of the kingdom to the satisfaction of
its subjects. The the queen and the subjects of the Kingdom were directed by
the Lord to worship everyday the following Gods : Prithvi (Goddess of Earth),
Uma (Wife of Lord Siva), Hari (Lord bishnu), Kumar (Kartikaya), Hara (Lord
Siva), Ma (Lakshmi), Bani (Saraswati), Ganesh (Siddidata), Brahma (creator of
Universe), Kamdev (God of Love and Romance), Samudra (God of Ocean), Ganga
(Goddess of Ganges), Agni (God of Fire), and Himalaya (God of all Hills). The
tribal priest also worships another Goddess, namely 'Burama' during the Kharchi
Puja.
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