AGARTALA: Marking the grand commencement of one of Tripura’s most sacred, historic, and unifying cultural-religious celebrations, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha today officially inaugurated the week-long traditional Kharchi Festival and Fair 2026 at the historic Chaturdasha Devata Mandir (Fourteen Gods Temple) complex in Khayerpur, Old Agartala.
Amid traditional drum beats, chanting of sacred mantras, and high spiritual enthusiasm, thousands of devotees gathered at the temple premises from early morning to seek blessings from the fourteen patron deities.
Symbol of Harmony and Cultural Heritage
Addressing the massive gathering after performing traditional offerings, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha extended his warm greetings to the people of Tripura and visiting pilgrims from across the region.
”Kharchi Puja is not merely a religious ritual; it is a shining symbol of Tripura’s centuries-old history, spiritual consciousness, and deep-rooted harmony between indigenous tribal and non-tribal communities,” the Chief Minister emphasized. He noted that while the festival originated as a royal tradition, it has today transformed into a universal platform of unity and social integration.
Green Theme: “Ek Ped, Maa Ke Naam”
Highlighting a key environmental initiative for this year’s 265th edition of the festival, the organizing committee, led by Khayerpur MLA and Festival Committee Chairman Ratan Chakraborty, has adopted the theme “Ek Ped, Maa Ke Naam”. As part of the drive, 1,000 tree saplings will be distributed daily to visiting devotees throughout the seven days to promote environmental conservation.
Key Dignitaries Present
The grand inaugural function was attended by a host of distinguished leaders and officials, including:
- Sushanta Chowdhury: Minister for Tourism and Transport
- Deepak Majumder: Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation and MLA
- Ratan Chakraborty: MLA and Kharchi Festival Committee Chairman
- Abhishek Debroy: Tripura Pradesh BJP President
- Dr. Vishal Kumar: District Magistrate, West Tripura
- Top administrative and local panchayat representatives.
Elaborate security arrangements, medical aid posts, traffic diversions, and civic amenities have been put in place by the state administration to facilitate the lakhs of devotees and tourists expected to visit the shrine and traditional fair over the next seven days.
