Kharchi Puja 2024 Date, Significance and Rituals: Here's What You Should Know About Tripura's Royal Festival Dedicated to Worship of Chaturdasa Devata

Kharchi Puja 2024 is marked on July 14. This annual celebration is an important festival in Tripura that is centred around the worship of Chaturdasa Devata, the ancestral deity of the Tripuri people. Kharchi Puja is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm by people across the state and is also called the “Festival of 14 Gods”. This is because, on the occasion of Kharchi Puja, the people of Tripura offer their prayers to the 14 Gods that form the dynasty deity of the people of Tripura. The commemoration is a vibrant display of religious fervour and cultural heritage and is marked with great enthusiasm across the state. As we prepare to mark Kharchi Puja 2024, here is everything you need to know about this festival, how to celebrate Kharchi Puja, the significance of the festival, rituals and more.

Kharchi Puja 2024 Date

Kharchi Puja 2024 is celebrated on July 14. This annual celebration falls on the Shukla Paksha Ashtami in the Hindu month of Ashada. The word - Kharchi - is an amalgamation of two words - khar or kharta - which means sin and chi or si - which means cleaning. The celebration aims to clean one’s sins by offering prayers to the almighty.

Kharchi Puja Significance and Rituals

Every year, the celebration of Kharchi Puja is marked with great fervour and enthusiasm by the people of Tripura. Thousands of devotees get together in this display of the cultural heritage of the state and the religious significance of the festival. Temples often organize a grand dancing and singing festival to mark this day. Kharchi Puja is celebrated 15 days after the local festival of Ambu Bachi or Ambu Pechi - which is believed to represent the menstrual cycle of the Goddess.

On the occasion of Kharchi Puja, people begin the day with the sacred chanting of mantras and seek the blessings of the deity. A popular practice during this time is the construction of Chaturdasha Mandapa - which is made of bamboo and thatched roofs. Chaturdasha Mandapa signifies the royal palace of the Tripura Kings. A grand procession of the fourteen deities is also held from Ujjayanta Palace to the Chaturdasha Mandapa. Here’s wishing everyone a Happy Kharchi Puja 2024!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2024 11:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).