Banakalagi Niti at Puri Srimandir: Darshan Suspended for Five Hours

Puri: Public darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple will remain suspended for five hours today as the sacred Banakalagi Niti ritual is observed.

The ritual, performed on the occasion of Magha Krishna Chaturthi, involves adorning Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra with traditional natural colours prepared from organic sources.

According to temple authorities, darshan will be closed from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm while the Dutta Mohapatra sevayats carry out the elaborate process, also known as Shreemukha Shringara.

The deities are decorated using white from conch shell, black from lamp soot, red from haritala, and yellow from hingula. Additionally, kasturi (natural musk) is applied to protect the divine bodies.

While devotees will not be able to have darshan of the Holy Trinity during this period, prayers to other deities inside the temple will remain open.

After the completion of Banakalagi Niti, evening rituals including Sandhya Alati, Sandhya Dhoopa, and Badasinghara Besha will be performed, following which darshan will resume late into the night.

Temple authorities have advised devotees to plan their visit accordingly.