Traditional Ker Puja celebrated in Tripura
Agartala, Jul 26, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk
Agartala July 26: Centuries old traditional festival of Tripura, Ker Puja was celebrated with due dignity in state.
15 days after the Kharchi Puja celebrations, Ker puja rituals are celebrated. The area in and around the royal palace here as well as Puran Haveli, the erstwhile capital of Tripura, around 12km east of the city, has been notified for Ker puja.
Talking to the media a priest said, “Ker puja starts midnight and will continue uninterrupted for over 30 hours, permkits no deaths, births or even recreation, within a notified area. No outsiders are allowed to enter and anyone violating rules has to pay”,
“The customary rules and traditions of Ker Puja are not easy to follow. All pregnant women, diseased and dying are kept out of the specified Puja area”, said the priest.
The literal meaning of “Ker” in Kokborok language is a specified area. Time honoured beliefs lies behind the ritualistic invocation during the festival.
A structure constructed with green bamboo polies serves as the deity for Ker Puja. The “Chantais” or head priest is regarded as the King on the occasion.
Besides capital city Agartala and Puran Haveli, also known as Old Agartala, Ker Puja rituals are celebrated in indigenous populated villages towards the end of the year or at the harvesting season.