Puri, April 5: The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, will remain closed for five hours on Sunday to observe Ram Navami rituals. Devotees will not be allowed general darshan of the deities from 5 pm to 10 pm, as announced by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Saturday.

Ram Navami, celebrated on the ninth day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the lunar month Chaitra (March–April), marks the birth of Lord Ram in Hindu tradition. On this occasion, a secret ritual signifying the birth of Lord Ram by his mother, Kaushalya, will be performed at the 12th-century temple. Dutta Mohapatra servitors and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors will carry out the ceremony.