Bhubaneswar, March 4: Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain closed for five hours tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. As a result, devotees will not be allowed to have darshan of the deities from 5 PM to 10 PM.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has issued an official notification regarding the closure.
The Banakalagi Niti, also known as Shrimukha Sringara, is traditionally performed on Wednesday or Thursday. During this ritual, fresh colors are applied to the idols of the deities. Natural substances like Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Kesar, and Kaintha glue are used to prepare the Banaka.
The ritual is carried out by the Dutta Mohapatra servitors and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors, as per tradition. The Banaka mixture is made using ingredients such as Kasturi, Harital, Karpura, Kesar, Kalasankha, and Dhalasankha.
During the Banakalagi ritual, the Garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple remains closed, and no outsiders are allowed inside.
