Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb Wednesday inaugurated the Kharchi festival here and said that 'Nesha Mukta' Tripura (drug free Tripura) and 'Save Water' are the themes of the festival this year.
Thousands of devotees visited the Chaturdash Devata temple at 'Puran Agartala' near here Wednesday, to offer pujas as the week-long Kharchi festival, one of the most popular festivals of Tripura.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the people of the state on the occasion.
"Greetings to everyone, especially the people of Tripura on the start of the auspicious 'Kharchi Puja'. May 'Chaturdas Devata' bless everyone with happiness, good health and prosperity," Modi tweeted.
In his inaugural speech, the chief minister said, "This year, the themes of Kharchi festival are 'Save Water' and 'Nesha Mukta Tripura' with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has started the campaign to save water".
Kharchi is the biggest traditional festival in the state. Earlier, the kings of Tripura offered pujas to the 14 Gods and Goddesses, but later it became the festival of common people, Deb said.
People irrespective of their caste, creed and culture throng the premises of the festival and celebrate it with pomp and gaiety, Deb said.
Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the festival by lighting lamp.
State Revenue Minister and prominent tribal leader, N C Debbarma, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Council, Prafullajit Sinha and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
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