Argus News - Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Approves Five Panjis for 2026-27

Puri, Feb 10: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has taken a crucial decision during the review meeting of the 2026-27 Panji (almanac).

To avoid confusion over festival dates in the coming years, discrepancies in earlier manuscripts have been corrected. The administration has approved five Panjis — Kohinoor, Radharaman, Bhagyadeep, Arunoday, and J.N. Tripathy — for official publication. Devotees have been advised to follow only these five Panjis for temple-related festivals.

According to the approved calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi will be observed in the temple on September 14. Deba Deepavali will be celebrated from December 8 to 10 over three days.

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Mahavishuba Sankranti and Hanuman Jayanti will be observed on April 14, 2027, coinciding with the release of the Odia New Year Panji and calendar by the temple administration.

From Mahavishuba Sankranti until the Badi Nrusingha Vijay festival in 2027, all temple festivals will be published in these five authorized Panjis. Any unauthorized Panji publishing incorrect festival dates will face action.

This move comes after years of confusion caused by conflicting information in different Panjis, which often misled devotees. The administration’s decision is expected to bring clarity and uniformity.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, on the sacred Falguna Krishna Paksha Dashami tithi, the temple will conduct the Banakalagi Niti of the Chaturdha Vigraha. As part of this secret and special service, darshan will remain closed for four hours — from 6 PM to 10 PM. Devotees will need to wait until the completion of the ritual to resume darshan.

During the ritual, Datta Mahapatra sevayats (servitors) will perform the Banakalagi or Srimukha Shringar ceremony on the Ratnabedi. Lord Jagannath’s face will be adorned with natural colours such as Hingula, Harital, Shankha, Kasturi, and Kala. After the Banakalagi ritual, the deities will be given a Mahasnan (holy bath), following which darshan will reopen for devotees.