Puri, Jun 24: On the sacred occasion of Anabasara Chaturdashi, the revered Banakalagi Niti of Lord Jagannath is set to be performed at the Shree Jagannath Temple today.

The ritual will be carried out by the Dattamahapatra Sevayats, a hereditary servitor group entrusted with special responsibilities in temple traditions.

As part of this ritual, Khadi Prasad—a special offering—is ceremoniously taken to the sanctum accompanied by gongs, ceremonial umbrellas, and trumpets.

The Khadi Prasad, previously offered to the Lord, is carried in silver plates by the Daitapati and Dattamahapatra Sevayats to be presented to the Gajapati Maharaja, the titular king of Puri.

Following the offering, the Banakalagi—literally meaning ‘rejuvenation of the face’—takes place. The Dattamahapatra servitors apply sacred pastes made from hingula (vermilion), haritala (yellow pigment), kesar (saffron), kasturi (musk), and white and black powders to adorn the Lord’s visage in a divine makeover.

This cherished tradition not only rejuvenates the appearance of the Lord but also carries deep spiritual significance and is revered by devotees. A second round of the Banakalagi ritual will also held tomorrow.

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