Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday inaugurated the weeklong Kharchi festival, one of the most popular and biggest festivals of the state, at Chaturdash Devata temple in Puran Agartala near here. Thousands of devotees visited the temple to offer pujas.

Inaugurating the event, Deb said the kings of Tripura offered puja to the 14 gods and goddesses, but later it became a festival of common people.

“This year our themes for the mela are ‘Nasha Mukta Tripura’ and ‘Save water’. In the seven days, people, irrespective of caste and culture, will unite and celebrate. Cultural events will be held every day in which people from different states and other countries will participate,” Deb said.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Tripura. “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.”

Chaturdas devata, which means 14 gods and goddesses, are the principal deities of Tripura’s Manikya kings. The princely state joined the Indian Union by signing an accession of merger in 1949.

Deb said last year, the mela was organised peacefully and no untoward incident was reported.

“It was possible only after a BJP government was formed in the state. People started adopting good manners. It would not have been possible but for an efficient management by the administration. The stall distribution for the mela has been done through lottery, keeping a transparency in the entire system for people coming from various places. The number of stalls has also increased this year,” Deb said.

He criticised the previous Left Front government for not taking any good decisions to develop the state.

“We had announced ‘Atal Jal Dhara’ scheme. By 2024 every household will get water at their doorsteps. We will have a Rs 900-crore budget and will set up dams for water storage in various places of the state,” Deb said.