Puri, August 13: The Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath will be performed at the Puri Srimandir today, with the Dattamahapatra servitors scheduled to carry out the special adornment of the deities’ holy faces.

As part of the ritual, public darshan will remain closed for around four hours, from 6 pm to 10 pm, during which devotees will not be allowed to have darshan of the deities.

Preparations for the Banakalagi ritual will begin in the afternoon after the completion of the second Bhoga Mandap ritual. The Dattamahapatra servitors will then enter the sanctum sanctorum to perform the special facial decoration of the deities.

The Banakalagi ritual is considered an important service in which the deities’ Sri Anga is beautified, enhancing their divine appearance.

However, the exact timing of the ritual will depend on the day’s schedule of various rituals and worship services at the temple.