Kharchi Puja, Tripura

Kharchi is a popular festival in Tripura. The Puja (worship) was once performed only by the royal households; however with changing times, Kharchi became common to all the houses in Tripura. It is a 10-day long festival that is marked by animal sacrifice and worshipping 14 gods as instructed by Lord Shiva. The festival takes place in the month of July each year in Old Agartala or Puran Haveli, where there is a temple that houses 14 deities. Thousands of people throng Tripura during the festival and enjoy cultural programmes and fairs.