Puri, Sept 10: The Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be conducted at Srimandir here on Thursday on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ashwina Krushna Chaturthi Tithi’, for which the temple will remain closed for devotees for five hours tomorrow, informed the temple authorities on Wednesday.

Restrictions For Devotees

According to the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, the Banakalagi Niti of the Holy Trinity will be performed between 5 PM to 10 PM tomorrow, following the completion of the second Bhog Mandap offering, during which the temple’s garbhagruha (inner sanctum) will remain closed to all outsiders to maintain the sanctity of the ritual.

As the public darshan at the temple will be suspended for five hours, devotees have been advised to plan their visits accordingly, the SJTA said.

What Is Banakalagi Niti?

Banakalagi Niti, also known as Shrimukha Sringara, is a ritual where the deities’ faces are repainted with sacred substances like kasturi (musk), harital (yellow pigment), kesar (saffron), and hingula (vermilion). This ritual is believed to rejuvenate the divine aura of the deities and is performed by the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors inside the sanctum sanctorum. 

Spiritual Significance

The Banakalagi ritual is not merely cosmetic—it symbolizes the spiritual renewal of the deities and deepens the connection between the divine and the devotees. Performed periodically, it is considered one of the most intimate and sacred rites in the temple’s calendar.

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