Bhubaneswar, Aug 6: The Jagannath Temple in Puri will be closed for four hours on Wednesday for the Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.

Due to this, devotees will not be able to have darshan of the deities from 5 pm to 9 pm on Wednesday. However, according to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), devotees can have darshan of the Holy Trinity after the completion of the ritual post 9 pm.

Sources indicate that the Banakalagi Niti, or Shrimukha Sringara, of Lord Jagannath is performed on either Wednesday or Thursday. During this ritual, fresh colors are applied to the idols of the deities. Natural colors like Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshar, and the glue of Kaintha are used to prepare a Banaka.

Traditionally, the Dutta Mohapatra servitors and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors perform the rituals. The Banaka is made using ‘kasturi’, ‘harital’, ‘karpura’, ‘kesar’, ‘kalasankha’, and ‘dhalasankha’. During this ritual, the garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple remains closed, and no outsiders are allowed inside.

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