Thousands of devotees thronged at the premises of the Chaturdash Devata temple at 'Puran Agartala', about seven km from here, to offer puja as the week-long 'Kharchi festival', considered the biggest fest of Tripura began today.
State Urban Development Minister Manik Dey, who hails from the area, inaugurated the festival by lighting lamp in the presence of Deputy Speaker of the Tripura Assembly and other dignitaries.
Adequate security measures were taken with the deployment of state police and Tripura State Rifles. CCTV cameras were also installed to keep close surveillance, SP (Police Control) Uttam Bhaumick said.
All the expenses of the puja are borne by the government as it was an agreement with the government of India during the merger of the princely state of Tripura in 1949.
