Puri, Mar 9: The world-renowned Puri Jagannath Temple will remain closed to devotees for four hours today, according to a post by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Office on X. The temporary closure is to facilitate the performance of the sacred Khasapada Lagi ritual.
Temple authorities have announced that public darshan of the sibling deities-Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra-will be suspended from 6 pm to 10 pm. The Khasapada Lagi Niti ritual will be conducted after the second bhoga offering at the Bhoga Mandap. Once the ceremony is completed, regular public darshan will resume.
The Khasapada Niti, also known as Khasapada Laagi, is a confidential and highly specialized ritual performed at the Puri Jagannath Temple twice a year, following the Rath Yatra and Holi celebrations. The ritual serves to protect and preserve the sacred bodies of the Trinity.
During major festivals such as Rath Yatra and Holi, the wooden idols are exposed to sunlight, rain, and other environmental factors, which can cause damage. To counter this, the Daitapati servitors repair the deities and apply a protective herbal paste to restore and safeguard the idols from the effects of exposure and ceremonial practices.
