Puri, Jan 28: The public darshan of the holy trinity-Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra-at the Puri Srimandir will be restricted tomorrow evening for a special ritual known as ‘Banakalagi Niti’. As per the temple authorities, devotees will not be allowed to have darshan from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm today to allow the sacred performance of this important ritual.

Banakalagi, also referred to as Srimukha Sringara, is a significant ritual performed seven to eight times a year. During this ritual, the deities receive a fresh, divine makeover with a special type of face-painting ceremony that adorns them with a new look. This is done on the Ratnavedi, the most sacred altar where the idols are placed.

The name Banakalagi is derived from two words-‘Bana’ meaning forest and ‘Lagi’ meaning to apply. The ritual involves applying four distinctive colors-haritala (red), hengula (yellow), sankha (white), and black-to the deities’ faces using rare forest products. According to culture experts, these colors are prepared from specific natural materials found in the forests, adding a unique aspect to the ritual.

The Banakalagi Niti is not just a ceremonial event but a deeply symbolic act, drawing from Odisha's rich tradition and the worship of nature's resources. Devotees are urged to plan accordingly as darshan will be unavailable during this period today.