Devotees visiting the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will face a temporary suspension of darshan today as the sacred ‘Banakalagi’ ritual of the deities is set to take place.
The temple administration has announced that darshan will remain closed for five hours, from 5 PM to 10 PM.
‘Banakalagi’ (meaning “facial adornment”) is a secret ritual performed inside the Garbha Gruha (sanctum sanctorum), where natural herbal colours are applied to the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra to restore their divine glow. This age-old practice is conducted multiple times a year by the Dutta Mahapatra servitors using special herbal pastes made from natural ingredients like haritala (yellow), hengula (red), conch shell powder (white), and black Kajal.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has urged devotees to plan their visits accordingly and cooperate with the temple authorities. Regular darshan will resume after 10 PM once the ritual is completed.
This sacred tradition, deeply rooted in Jagannath culture, is an essential part of the deities’ care, ensuring their divine beauty remains intact for devotees.
