The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced that the Puri Srimandir will close from 6 PM to 10 PM today for the Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
The Banakalagi Niti takes place on Vaisakha Krushna Trayodashi tithi. The temple authorities confirmed that public darshan will stop after the Second Bhog Mandap offering. Devotees must plan their visit accordingly, as entry remains restricted during the ritual.
Servitors perform the Banakalagi ritual inside the sanctum sanctorum. They apply fresh natural colours—Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshar, and Kaintha glue—to the faces of the sibling deities. The process symbolises rejuvenation and divine beauty.
The Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors conduct the sacred ceremony following age-old tradition. The garbhagruha stays closed, and no outsiders enter during the ritual.
After the second bhog offering, the Bhog Mandap shuts down, and the temple remains inaccessible until the completion of the Banakalagi Niti. The SJTA urged devotees to respect the schedule and avoid crowding near the temple gates.
