Article Title: Kharchi Puja
27-06-2023
History & Art and Culture Prelims Plus
Why is in news? PM conveys best wishes on Kharchi Puja
Kharchi Puja is a Hindu festival from Tripura.
It is performed in Agartala in July or August, the festival involves the worship of the fourteen gods forming the dynasty deity of the Tripuri people.
Kharchi Puja is one of the most popular festivals in Tripura.
It's a week-long royal Puja which falls in the month of July on the eighth day of the new moon and attracts thousands of people.
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 fourteen gods and Mother Earth.
The Puja is performed to wash out the sins and to clean the post-menstrual phase of Mother Earth's menstruation. Thus the Puja is performed for seven consecutive days.
On the day of the Puja, the fourteen gods are carried to river Saidra by the members of chantai. The gods are bathed in the holy water and are brought back to the temple.
Animal sacrifice is also an important part of this festival.
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