Public darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain suspended for five hours on Wednesday due to the observance of the sacred Banakalagi Niti, an important ritual of the Holy Trinity—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
Darshan Timings Affected
According to temple authorities, the Banakalagi ritual is being performed on the occasion of Magha Krishna Chaturthi. As per the ritual schedule, general darshan will be closed from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
The ritual, also known as Shreemukha Shringara, will begin after the completion of the second Bhoga Mandap offering.
Traditional Ritual Using Natural Colours
During Banakalagi Niti, the Dutta Mohapatra sevayats adorn the deities using traditional natural colours prepared from organic and sacred sources. These include:
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White from conch shell
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Black from lamp soot (diya)
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Red from Haritala
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Yellow from Hingula
Additionally, Kasturi (natural musk) is applied to protect the divine bodies of the sibling deities during the ritual. The entire process is expected to take approximately five hours.
Access to Other Deities Remains Open
While darshan of the Holy Trinity will not be available during this period, devotees will still be allowed to offer prayers to other deities located within the temple परिसर.
Darshan to Resume After Night Rituals
Following the completion of Banakalagi Niti, important evening rituals such as Sandhya Alati, Sandhya Dhoopa, and Badasinghara Besha will be performed late into the night. Public darshan will resume thereafter.
Devotees are advised to plan their visit accordingly.
