Banakalagi Ritual in Puri Srimandir: Public Darshan To Be Restricted For 4 Hours Today

Puri, Aug 7: The Banakalagi ritual of the Holy Trinity, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, will be conducted at Srimandir here in Odisha today for which the temple will remain closed for devotees for four hours this evening, officials said.

According to the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, the Banakalagi ritual will be performed by Dutta Mohapatra servitors between 5 pm to 9 pm today, during which the public darshan at the 12th century shrine will remain be suspended for the said four hours.

The Banakalagi ritual will begin after the completion of the second Bhoga Mandap of the Holy Trinity.

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.