Puri, April 15: The Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath will be performed at the Srimandir on Wednesday. In view of this special ritual, public darshan will remain closed from 6 PM to 10 PM, the temple administration informed.

The ritual will be observed on the occasion of Baisakha Krishna Trayodashi. During this period, the Dattamahapatra servitors will carry out the sacred adornment of the deities’ faces. Preparations for the Banakalagi ritual will begin after the second Bhogamandap ritual in the afternoon.

What is Banakalagi ritual?

Banakalagi is a secret ritual of Lord Jagannath. During this time, the Jay-Vijay gate of the temple remains closed. After the completion of the midday rituals, the Dattamahapatra servitors decorate the faces of the deities using natural colours.

These colours are traditionally prepared using natural substances such as hingula (cinnabar), haritala, kasturi, and other red, white, and black pigments. As it is a secret ritual, darshan of the deities remains suspended for devotees during the entire duration of the ceremony.