Puri, Oct 15: The sacred Banakalagi or Shrimukha Sringara ritual of Lord Jagannath will be performed at the Shree Jagannath Temple on Wednesday, coinciding with the Krushna Paksha Navami tithi of the Kartika month. In view of the ritual, public darshan will remain suspended for around five hours, from 6 PM to 10 PM, following the second Bhoga Mandap offering.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the Banakalagi is a secret ritual wherein the deities’ faces are adorned using traditional natural substances. As per tradition, Dutta Mahapatra servitors will carry out the ritual on the Ratnavedi after the second Bhoga Mandap.

The materials used for the facial decoration include Hingula (vermilion), Haritala (yellow pigment), camphor, and Kasturi (musk). These elements are carefully applied to enhance the divine appearance of the deities, making the facial features more vibrant and aesthetically pleasing.

Banakalagi is considered a highly sacred and confidential ritual, performed behind closed doors. The SJTA has finalized the ritual schedule (Niti Nirdhanta) in coordination with the servitor groups to ensure the smooth execution of the ceremony.

Devotees are advised to plan their temple visit accordingly, keeping in mind the temporary suspension of darshan during the evening hours.