Puri, Nov 17: On occasion of Margashira Krishna Trayodashi, a special ritual known as Paita Lagi will be performed in the Srimandir. This ritual is a secretive one, and as a result, the temple will remain closed to the public for five hours.

According to the temple administration, this secretive ritual will take place after the completion of the second Bhog Mandap offering. The temple will remain closed from 5 PM to 10 PM for general public darshan. The Paita Lagi ritual will be performed by the Daitapati Sevayats, with a special offering of Paitas to the Lord’s sacred body.

After the Paita Lagi ritual and the Mahasnana of Lord Jagannath, public darshan will resume. This ritual is traditionally conducted twice a year, once before the Odhani festival and again before the Chandan Yatra.