Puri Jagannath Temple Suspends Evening Darshan for Banakalagi Ritual

Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain closed to devotees this evening from 6 pm to 10 pm as the sacred Banakalagi ritual is performed.

Also known as Shreemukha Shringara, the ceremony involves adorning the faces of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra with natural substances such as conch shell powder, lamp soot, Haritala, Hingula, and Kasturi.

The ritual begins with Mahasnana (ceremonial bathing) and is conducted privately by the Dutta Mohapatra servitors after the second Bhoga Mandap offering.

While darshan of the sibling deities will be suspended during this period, devotees may continue to offer prayers to other deities within the temple complex. Regular darshan is expected to resume at 10 pm.