Ker Puja in India 2023: Date, History, Facts about Tripura

Two weeks after Kharchi Puja, another popular festival, Ker Puja is celebrated, predominantly in the small northeastern Indian state of Tripura. This year, the two-and-a-half-day festival honouring Ker, the guardian deity of Vastu Devata, is observed from July 11 to 13. During the three-day observance, all banks and government institutions in Agartala, the state capital, are typically closed. During the Puja, residents of the capital must not only remain at home but also refrain from all forms of revelry. During Ker Puja, if you visit Agartala in July or August and are surprised to find the city sealed and silent in the morning, you have likely arrived during this time.

The background of Ker Puja

We presume that the celebration of Ker Puja began more than five centuries ago, as it was one of the holidays observed by former monarchs. The newly constituted Tripura government reached an agreement with the regent of Tripura in 1949 to sponsor all pujas, temples, and religious festivals in the state, although there is no written evidence indicating the exact date the celebration began. Because Ker Puja is celebrated two weeks after Kharchi Puja, which does not have a set date, it is celebrated on various dates throughout the year.

The celebration is predominantly centred in Agartala and typically occurs between eight and ten in the morning. On the day of the festival, the entrance to the city is closed and people from surrounding areas are prohibited from entering. There are temporary restrictions on lighting fires, donning shoes, dancing, and other amusements. Any individual who violates these rules is required to pay a fine, and the Puja would have to begin again. The elderly, the weak, and expectant women are relocated to nearby villages to deter rule-breaking.

The Tripura regal palace has long served as the celebration’s primary location. On a given day, the Chantai has precedence over all other authorities. A wide piece of bamboo is bent into the shape of a Ker symbol and then swung with sufficient speed to produce a sound. The celebration is announced with a deafening bang in the early hours of the morning, and it is ended with the same sound.

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5 TRIPURA FACTS THAT WILL INTEREST YOU

Before joining the Mughal Empire in the 1600s, Tripura was an independent Hindu kingdom.

Ujjayanta Palace and Neermahal are specimens of Tripura’s architectural excellence.

Neermahal is an impressive residence constructed on Rudrasagar Lake.

Six to fourteen-year-old children are entitled to free education.

Tripura is the third most literate state in India, with an over-85% literacy rate.

KER PUJA DATES