Puri, Sept. 29 (UDN): Public darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain suspended for around four hours on Wednesday, September 30, to facilitate the Banakalagi Niti of the Holy Trinity.
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The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), in a notification, said the special ritual will be performed on Ashwin Krushna Chaturthi Tithi. Accordingly, devotees will not be allowed darshan from 6 pm to 10 pm after completion of the second Bhoga Mandapa offering.
Banakalagi Niti At Srimandir
Banakalagi, also known as Srimukha Sringara, is a significant ritual during which the facial features of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan are given a fresh coat of natural colours.
The ritual is performed on the deities seated on the Ratna Singhasana and is traditionally carried out by the Dutta Mohapatra servitors.
Darshan Suspended During Ritual
The Banakalagi ritual is performed in a secluded manner, with the temple doors closed to devotees while the sacred face decoration is undertaken.
The ritual generally takes around four to five hours. During this period, public darshan remains suspended and only authorised Dutta Mohapatra servitors participate in the ritual.
The term Banakalagi is traditionally associated with Bana, meaning forest, and Lagi, meaning to apply, reflecting the ritual’s traditional use of natural colours and materials.
The ritual is generally performed twice a month, on a Wednesday or Thursday, according to the temple’s established ritual schedule.
Devotees planning to visit Srimandir on Wednesday evening have been advised to take note of the temporary suspension of darshan between 6 pm and 10 pm.