Banakalagi Ritual in Puri Srimandir After Rath Yatra: Public Darshan To Be Restricted For 3 Hours

Puri, July 24: The Banakalagi ritual of the Holy Trinity, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, will be conducted at the Srimandir here on Wednesday for which the temple will remain closed for devotees for four three hours from 6 PM to 9 PM, informed the temple authorities.

This will be the first Banakalagi ritual of the Holy Trinity after their 'Niladri Bije' following the Rath Yatra, the annual journey of Lord Jagannath and his siblings from the 12th century Shree Jagannath temple to their aunt’s abode in Gundicha temple here.

According to the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, the Banakalagi ritual will be performed by Dutta Mohapatra servitors between 6 PM to 9 PM today, during which the public darshan at the 12th century shrine will remain be suspended for the said four hours.

Notably, the Banakalagi ritual happens to be a secret ritual of the deities also known as ‘Srimukha Sringara’. During this ritual, the servitors apply fresh colours on the idols of the deities with an objective of restoring their original look.

The ‘Banaka’ is prepared from different types of natural colours like Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshar and the glue of Kaintha to be later applied to the idols.

Puri district administration and the SJTA have made adequate security arrangements around the temple in view of the Banakalagi ritual of the Holy Trinity.