Devotees planning a visit to the world-famous Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri have been issued an important advisory by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA).
On Wednesday, 29 July 2026, coinciding with the auspicious Ashadha Shukla Byasha Purnima tithi, the temple will perform the highly revered Banakalagi Niti (also known as Srimukha Sringara) of the sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
This sacred ritual involves the delicate beautification and divine painting of the holy faces of the deities, a unique artistic and spiritual tradition that forms an integral part of the temple’s periodical nitis.
As a result, after the completion of the Second Bhoga Mandapa offering, public darshan will remain temporarily suspended from 6 PM to 11 PM.
Temple authorities have urged pilgrims and tourists to plan their schedules accordingly so that they do not face disappointment. Morning and afternoon darshan timings will continue as usual until the second Bhoga is completed.
Banakalagi Niti is one of the most visually and spiritually significant rituals at Srimandir, reflecting the living tradition of care and adornment offered to the wooden deities who are treated as living gods. The temporary closure allows the sevayats to perform the intricate process with complete devotion and privacy.
Devotees are requested to follow the advisory and experience the divine darshan either before 6 PM or after the ritual concludes at 11 PM.
