Puri, June 6: Srimandir will remain closed to devotees for five hours day due to the observance of the Rukmini Harana and Bibaha rituals.
According to an official statement from the temple administration, the closure will take place on the occasion of Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi, a significant day in the Hindu lunar calendar.
The special rituals mark the ceremonial marriage of Goddess Rukmini to Lord Jagannath.
As per the schedule, devotees will be permitted inside the temple premises in the morning. However, after the completion of the Bhogamandapa Bhoga around 1:00 pm, public darshan will be temporarily suspended.
The temple doors to the sanctum sanctorum will remain closed until 6:00 pm while the rituals are underway.
The Rukmini Harana and Bibaha rituals are considered spiritually significant and are carried out with great devotion and traditional grandeur. These rituals depict the mythological story of Lord Jagannath abducting and marrying Goddess Rukmini.
Devotees planning to visit the Srimandira on Friday have been advised to plan their pilgrimage keeping this temporary closure in mind.
Temple authorities have urged visitors to cooperate with the schedule and avoid crowding during the restricted hours.
