Public darshan at Puri Srimandir suspended for four hours on Wednesday
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has announced the suspension to facilitate the Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath and His siblings.
Public entry at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will be suspended for approximately four hours on Wednesday to facilitate the Banakalagi ritual, according to Pragativadi.
The ritual, which involves facial ornamentation for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshana, will take place on the Dashami Tithi of Kartika Krishna Paksha.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) stated that the suspension will occur from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
During this period, the Jaya Vijaya door of the sanctum sanctorum will remain closed to preserve the secrecy of the ritual.
The Banakalagi ritual involves Dutta Mahapatra servitors using natural ingredients such as Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, and organic oils to restore the facial features of the deities.
Public darshan will resume once the ritual concludes and the deities undergo ritualistic purification.