Jagannath Temple to Remain Closed for Banakalagi Ritual on Thursday Evening

Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain closed to devotees for five hours on Thursday, July 17, to facilitate the sacred Banakalagi ritual of the sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.

According to a notification issued by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), devotees will not be allowed darshan of the deities from 6 PM to 11 PM as the temple undergoes the Banakalagi Niti, also known as Shrimukha Sringara.

The Bhog Mandap will be shut after the second bhog offering, and the temple will be entirely inaccessible to the general public during the ritual hours. The SJTA has urged devotees to plan their visit accordingly to avoid inconvenience.

Banakalagi, which means “applying fresh colours to the face,” is a traditional and confidential ritual observed either on a Wednesday or Thursday. During this sacred ceremony, the faces of the deities are adorned with natural colours such as Hingula (vermilion), Haritala (yellow pigment), Kasturi (musk), Keshar (saffron), and Kaintha glue.

The ritual is conducted by specialized servitors — the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati sevayats — who prepare a special mixture called Banaka using ingredients like kasturi, harital, karpura (camphor), kesar, kalasankha, and dhalasankha.

As per temple tradition, the garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) remains strictly closed to outsiders during this ritual, ensuring complete privacy and sanctity.

The Banakalagi Niti is one of the many unique and intimate rituals of the Jagannath temple that highlights the living tradition of the deities, where they are treated not just as idols but as divine beings who undergo rest, nourishment, adornment, and care.