Kharchi Puja 2025 begins in Khayerpur, Tripura, celebrating 14 deities with age-old rituals, colourful processions, and lakhs of devotees from India and Bangladesh. Rooted in tribal Hindu tradition, this week-long festival unites communities and continues under the 1949 royal merger agreement with the Indian government.
The iconic and centuries-old ‘Kharchi Puja‘, a vibrant and spiritually significant Hindu festival, is set to begin on Thursday in Khayerpur, a historical town just 8 km north of Agartala. Once known as Puran Habeli, the former capital of the erstwhile princely state of Tripura, this culturally rich region will witness a grand congregation of devotees, deities, and traditions that have transcended generations.
The festivities will kick off formally on Thursday, but as per ancient custom, the revered ‘Snan Yatra’ or the ceremonial bathing of the 14 deities will be held on Wednesday evening. This event marks the spiritual purification of the deities and heralds the beginning of the week-long puja and mela.
Every year during the Hindu months of June-July, Tripura comes alive with the celebration of Kharchi Puja. The festival sees the simultaneous worship of 14 Hindu deities—Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesha, Brahma, Abadhi (God of water), Chandra, Ganga, Agni, Kamdev, and Himadri (Himalaya). These deities are considered protectors of the land and its people, especially among the indigenous tribal communities of Tripura.
Kharchi Puja, rooted in tribal Hindu traditions, has now grown into a festival celebrated across communities and religions, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and communal harmony. The word “Kharchi” is believed to be derived from “Khya”, meaning “earth”, and the puja itself is associated with worshipping the guardian deities of the land to purify the sins of mortals and cleanse Mother Earth.
The celebration includes a vibrant fair or mela, and lakhs of people from different parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh participate each year. Ratan Chakraborty, Chairman of the ‘Kharchi Puja and Mela Committee’, who is also a BJP MLA and former Speaker of the Tripura Assembly, said, “We expect over 30 lakh devotees and tourists this year, depending on the weather conditions. However, due to current unrest in Bangladesh, the turnout from our neighbouring country might be lower than in previous years.”
The festival is a spectacular mix of spirituality, music, culture, and tradition. Elaborate marquees are erected, colourful lights adorn the streets, and traditional rituals are performed with the rhythmic beats of drums and chanting of mantras. The celebration begins with a grand procession in which the 14 deities, escorted by Tripura Police personnel and accompanied by their music band, are brought to the temple from the royal premises. The Chief Royal Priest or ‘Raj Chantaia’ receives a ceremonial guard of honour in a scene that blends regal splendour with spiritual reverence.
Historian and writer Salil Debbarma explained that the festival starts with the ceremonial bathing of the deities in the sacred Howrah River. “The tradition of the Snan Yatra continues unbroken for centuries and remains the most significant prelude to Kharchi Puja,” he noted.
The temple of the 14 deities, which still stands in Khayerpur, was constructed during the reign of King Krishna Manikya Bahadur, who ruled Tripura from 1760 to 1761. It was he who shifted the state’s capital from Udaipur to Puran Habeli (present-day Khayerpur) in 1760. This city remained the capital of undivided Tripura, which also included areas that are now in Bangladesh, until 1838 when King Krishna Kishore Manikya Bahadur moved the capital to Agartala.
Interestingly, Tripura’s commitment to Kharchi Puja has constitutional roots. On October 15, 1949, Tripura merged with the Indian Union through a merger agreement signed between the regent Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi and the Indian Governor General. As part of that agreement, the government of Tripura is mandated to continue the royal tradition of funding and supporting 14 temples, including the Kharchi temple and the renowned Tripura Sundari temple, one of India’s 51 sacred Shakti Peethas.
Debbarma emphasized that the state’s continued sponsorship of the puja is more than a constitutional obligation—it is a matter of upholding the faith and cultural identity of Tripura’s tribal communities. “Kharchi Puja is not just a festival; it is a legacy of the state’s royal past and a symbol of unity among all its people,” he said.
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The event has also gained national prominence. During this year’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, only Tripura’s tableau among the eight northeastern states was featured on Kartavya Path in New Delhi—highlighting the grandeur of Kharchi Puja and its socio-cultural significance.
Kharchi Puja is a rare confluence of faith, royalty, and communal bonding, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate the divine. As the state prepares once again for a week of devotion and festivity, Khayerpur stands ready to welcome the gods—and with them, the hopes and hearts of thousands.
