Kharchi Puja | 30 Jun 2023

Why in News?

Kharchi Puja, a significant festival celebrated in the state of Tripura, has recently garnered attention in the news.

• The festival commenced on June 26 this year and will continue until July 2.

What is the Kharchi Puja?

• About:
  • Also known as the 'Festival of 14 Gods,' this traditional event involves the worship of Chaturdasa Devata, (housed in the ancient Ujjayanta Palace), the ancestral deity of the Tripuri people.
    • During the festival, the Tripuri people also worship the earth along with their 14 deities.
  • An important ritual in this festival involves the construction of the Chaturdasha Mandapa, a structure that symbolizes the royal palace of the Tripuri kings.
  • On the day of the Puja, the 14 gods are carried to river “Saidra” by the members of “Chantai” (royal priests). The gods are bathed in the holy water and are brought back to the temple.
• History:
  • The word ‘Kharchi’ is derived from two Tripuri words– ‘khar’ or kharta meaning sin and ‘chi’ or si meaning cleaning.
    • Although the festival has tribal origins, it is celebrated by both tribal and non-tribal people of Tripura.
  • It is believed that the Mother Goddess or Tripura Sundari, the presiding deity of the land who protects the people of Tripura, menstruates during the time of Ambubachi, which is observed in June.
    • There is a popular belief that the Earth becomes impure during the menstruation period of the Goddess.
    • Hence, Kharchi Puja is observed to ritualistically clean the Earth after her menstruation is over and wash away the sins of the people in the land.

Source: IE