Bhubaneswar, Aug 11: General darshan for devotees at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain suspended for five hours on Wednesday, August 12, to facilitate the observance of the Chitalagi Amavasya rituals, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced on Tuesday.

According to the temple administration, the special Chitalagi Niti of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be performed on the occasion of Shrabana Krushna Amabasya. Following completion of the first Bhoga Mandapa offering, public darshan will remain suspended from 2 pm to 7 pm.

Chitalagi Amavasya, also known as Chitau Amavasya, is an important traditional festival observed on the new moon day of the Odia month of Shravan. During the ritual, the three deities are adorned with precious, gem-studded golden ‘Chitas’, which are placed on their foreheads.

The Chitas are removed before Snana Purnima and are ceremonially reattached to the deities on Chitalagi Amavasya after the annual Rath Yatra festivities.

The festival also has a strong cultural significance across Odisha and is associated with Chitau Pitha, a traditional rice-based delicacy prepared in households on the occasion. The temple administration has urged devotees to plan their visit accordingly in view of the temporary suspension of darshan.

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