Puri: The Jagannath temple of Odisha will remain closed for four hours on Wednesday as the sacred Banakalagi ritual, which is also called Shrimukha Sringara, will be observed in the Srimandir today.
According to Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration, the Jagannath temple will remain closed for four hours from 6pm in the evening to 10 pm in the night today. During these four hours, the devotees will be barred from the darshan of the deities, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
The Banakalagi ritual is conducted secretly behind closed doors of the sanctrum sanctorium on Nabami tirhi of the holy Kartik month.
The Datta Mahapatra servitors will conduct the Banakalagi ritual of the holy trinity in the afternoon after the midday offering known as Dwiprahara Dhupa or the second Bhogamandap offering.
The servitors generally apply natural and herbal pigments such as vermilion, yellow arsenic, musk, and glue from the kaintha fruit are used to prepare the special colors for the deities’ fresh appearance. Then they will be given a bath. After that the deities will give darshan to the devotees.