Jagannath Tradition / Puri Jagannath Temple Darshan Suspended for 5 Hrs Tomorrow for This Special Ritual

Puri, Aug 11: Public darshan at the Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain suspended for approximately five hours on Wednesday due to the annual Chitalagi Amavasya ritual of the Holy Trinity.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), general darshan will be stopped after completion of the first Bhog Mandap ritual, tentatively from 2 pm to 7 pm on Wednesday.

Precious ‘Chita’ To Adorn Holy Trinity
Chitalagi Amavasya, observed on the new moon day of the month of Shravan, is an important ritual at Srimandir. On this occasion, the foreheads of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are adorned with their respective precious ‘Chita’ ornaments.

According to tradition, Lord Jagannath is adorned with a 'Heera Chita' (diamond), Lord Balabhadra with a 'Neela Chita' (blue sapphire) and Devi Subhadra with a 'Manikya Chita' (ruby).

The ornaments are made of gold and precious gemstones and are traditionally worn by the deities throughout the year.

Chitas Removed During Snana Purnima
The Chitas are removed from the foreheads of the deities during Snana Purnima as a security measure. During the Rath Yatra period, the deities are adorned with Chitas made of Sal wood.

On Chitalagi Amavasya, the precious ornaments are ceremonially restored to the foreheads of the Holy Trinity.

Also Read: Jagannath Devotees Upset After Wooden Idols Found Abandoned On Puri Beach

Ritual Follows First Bhog Mandap
As part of the ritual sequence, after the Bhog Mandap rituals are completed, 'Shree Devi' and 'Bhu Devi' are taken from the Ratna Singhasana to the Khataseja Ghar. The 'Jhoba Mailam' ritual is subsequently performed, following which the Jaya-Vijaya door is closed. The ritual holds a special place among the various festivals and observances followed at Srimandir.

The temple administration has accordingly informed devotees about the temporary suspension of public darshan and advised visitors to plan their temple visit keeping the five-hour closure in mind.