Darshan Suspended for 4 Hours at Srimandir Tomorrow

Public entry at the iconic Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain suspended for four hours on Wednesday to facilitate the sacred and confidential Banakalagi (facial ornamentation) ritual of Lord Jagannath and His siblings.

According to a special advisory released by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the special esoteric ritual will take place on the auspicious Dashami Tithi of Kartika Krishna Paksha.

Timings and Darshan Restrictions

Preparations for the ritual will commence in the afternoon immediately following the conclusion of the second Bhoga Mandap offering.

Restricted Hours: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (approximate duration of 4 hours).
Entry Status: General public darshan will remain completely suspended during this timeframe.
Access Control: The Jaya Vijaya door of the sanctum sanctorum will stay closed to preserve secrecy.

The temple administration has advised devotees travelling to Puri to align their visit according to the revised schedule to avoid inconvenience.

Banakalagi is an ancient, highly confidential ritual where the facial features of the deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshana—are restored using purely natural and indigenous cosmetics.

Feature	Details
Primary Servitors	Dutta Mahapatra servitors
Natural Ingredients	Hingula (Cinnabar), Haritala (Orpiment), Kasturi (Musk), and organic oils
Color Palette	Traditional shades of Red, White, Black, and Yellow
Purpose	Protecting wood carvings and restoring vibrant facial hues

Because the ritual involves strict secret esoteric practices, no outsider or devotee is permitted inside the main temple area while the Dutta Mahapatra servitors complete the divine touch-up. Public darshan will resume once the Banakalagi ritual concludes and the deities undergo ritualistic purification.