Historic Ker Puja Celebrated in Tripura’s Royal Palace
The historic Ker Puja, a tantric ritual dating back over 100 years to the royal era of Tripura, was celebrated with traditional fervor and devotion. This revered festival, observed on the first Saturday or Tuesday after a week of the Kharchi Puja, is conducted within a designated boundary and holds profound significance for the well-being of all communities and tribes in the region.
Ker Puja is deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual heritage of Tripura, taking place at the royal palace and the house of the deity in Old Agartala. Despite the reduced scale of the festival in modern times, the rituals and traditions remain intact, preserving the sanctity and essence of this ancient celebration.
The rituals commence at the royal palace, where strict adherence to the traditional boundaries is observed, ensuring that no one crosses the sacred limits set for the Puja. Once the ceremonies at the royal palace conclude, the Puja continues in the hills, following the same rules and rituals that were established during the royal era.
As the Ker Puja continues to be celebrated with the same devotion and reverence as it has for over a century, it stands as a testament to the enduring cultural legacy and spiritual richness of Tripura.
Speaking about the festival, Sambhu Bhattacharjee, Raj Purohit of the royal palace, said, “This Ker Puja has been celebrated since the royal era and has been observed for over 100 years in Tripura. The Ker Puja begins on the first Saturday or Tuesday after a week of the Kharchi Puja. This Puja is conducted within a designated boundary and is a fully tantric ritual. We perform this Puja for the well-being of all communities and tribal.”
He added, “The Ker Puja takes place in our royal palace and at the house of the deity in Old Agartala. During the royal era, the scale of the Puja was much larger, but now we conduct it within a smaller boundary. It is ensured that no one crosses the boundary of the Karchi Puja. After the Puja at the royal palace concludes, the Puja begins in the hills. The same rules that were followed during the royal era are still adhered to today. This Puja is performed for the well-being of all communities and tribes.”
Biswajath Debbarma, Rajbari Pujari, also noted, “The celebration of Ker Puja is held one week after Kharchi Puja. Every year, we perform this Puja.”
The festival embodies the spirit of unity and collective well-being, bringing together various communities and tribes in a shared expression of faith and tradition. The Ker Puja is not just a religious observance but a cultural heritage that underscores the rich history and communal harmony of Tripura.
Doubts Revealed
Ker Puja -: Ker Puja is a special festival celebrated in Tripura, a state in India. It is a very old ritual that has been practiced for over 100 years.
Tantric ritual -: A tantric ritual is a type of religious ceremony that involves special practices and chants to connect with spiritual powers. It is often considered very sacred and powerful.
Tripura -: Tripura is a small state in the northeastern part of India. It is known for its rich culture and traditions.
Royal Palace -: The Royal Palace is a big, beautiful building where the kings and queens of Tripura used to live. It is an important place for many traditional ceremonies.
Kharchi Puja -: Kharchi Puja is another important festival in Tripura. It is celebrated a week before Ker Puja and involves worshipping the earth and other deities.
Old Agartala -: Old Agartala is a historic area in Tripura where many traditional ceremonies, including Ker Puja, are held. It is known for its cultural heritage.
Raj Purohit -: Raj Purohit is a title given to the chief priest who performs important religious ceremonies in the royal family of Tripura.
Rajbari Pujari -: Rajbari Pujari is a priest who performs rituals in the royal palace of Tripura. ‘Rajbari’ means royal palace and ‘Pujari’ means priest.
Fervor -: Fervor means a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. When people celebrate with fervor, they are very happy and energetic about it.
Deity -: A deity is a god or goddess that people worship. In Ker Puja, the rituals are performed in the house of the deity, which is a special place for worship.