Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain closed to devotees for four hours on Wednesday evening for the sacred Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced.
According to an official notification issued by the SJTA, the temple will be shut from 6 pm to 10 pm on the occasion of Magha Shukla Dasami Tithi to facilitate the performance of the ritual. During this period, entry of devotees into the temple premises will not be allowed.
Banakalagi Niti, also known as Shrimukha Sringara, is a traditional ritual in which fresh natural colours are ceremonially applied to the faces of the sibling deities. As per temple customs, the ritual is usually observed on a Wednesday or Thursday.
The colours used in the ritual are prepared from natural ingredients such as Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshar, and the adhesive derived from Kaintha fruit. This sacred mixture, known as Banaka, is used to repaint and adorn the idols as part of the ceremonial practice.
As per longstanding tradition, the ritual is performed by designated servitors, including the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors. During the ceremony, the Garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) remains strictly out of bounds for outsiders.
The SJTA further informed that the Bhog Mandap will be closed after the second bhog offering of the day. Devotees have been advised to plan their visit accordingly, as the temple will remain inaccessible to the general public during the specified hours.