The Kharchi Puja of Tripura is associated with worship of how many deities?

Correct — B. Tripura's Department of Information and Cultural Affairs describes Kharchi as a festival of indigenous tribal deities held at Old Agartala, and speaks of the legends about these fourteen deities.

The deities' head-images carry Brahmanical names such as Hara, Uma and Hari. Fourteen is option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  12 — Twelve is not the count. The Tripura government's account of Kharchi speaks of fourteen deities, worshipped as head-images at Old Agartala.
• (c)
  15 — Fifteen overshoots by one. Tripura's Department of Information and Cultural Affairs counts fourteen deities at Kharchi.
• (d)
  16 — Sixteen is two too many. Tripura's government account places fourteen deities at the centre of Kharchi, worshipped at Old Agartala in June-July.

Kharchi is one of Tripura's most popular festivals. The state's Department of Information and Cultural Affairs calls it a festival of indigenous tribal deities, influenced by Brahmanical Hindus, that now draws people across communities.

It is held in June-July at Khayerpur in Old Agartala. The chief priest, the Chantai, chants the mantras, and a fair runs for seven days.

Key facts

• Kharchi Puja is the worship of fourteen deities, held at Khayerpur, Old Agartala, in June-July.
• The Chantai, the chief priest, chants the mantras at the worship.
• A fair held on the occasion continues for seven days.
• The deities' head-images carry Brahmanical names such as Hara, Uma and Hari.

Common traps

• Confusing the fourteen deities of Kharchi with the seven days its fair runs.
• Placing Kharchi in another north-eastern state when a question asks for its state, which is Tripura.

No directly related past PYQ was found.