Bhubaneswar, April 22: The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain closed to devotees for five hours on Wednesday, April 23, to conduct the sacred Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the ancient and significant ritual will be held in the Garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. During this period, devotees will not be allowed inside the inner sanctum, and general darshan will be suspended.

Banakalagi, meaning "facial decoration," is a revered ritual where fresh natural colors are applied to the faces of the deities. The process involves the preparation of a sacred cosmetic mixture called Banaka, made from ingredients like Hingula (vermilion), Haritala (yellow pigment), Kasturi (musk), Karpura (camphor), Keshar (saffron), and Kaintha tree glue.

The ritual will be performed by the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors, in strict adherence to temple traditions.

Public darshan will be restricted from 5 PM to 10 PM, following the second Bhoga Mandap offering. Temple authorities have urged devotees to plan their visits accordingly and cooperate with the arrangements.

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