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Puri Jagannath Temple Closed Today: Devotees Denied Entry for 'Secret' Banakalagi Ritual
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News18•30-09-2026, 19:00
Puri Jagannath Temple Closed Today: Devotees Denied Entry for 'Secret' Banakalagi Ritual
- •Puri Jagannath Temple will be closed for general devotees from 6 PM to 10 PM today for the sacred 'Banakalagi' ritual.
- •The 'Banakalagi' ritual, also known as Srimukha Shringar, involves repainting the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshan.
- •This secret ritual is performed annually to restore the idols' colors after the extensive Snana Yatra bathing ceremony.
- •Natural colors derived from conch shells, orpiment, cinnabar, and pure black ingredients are used for the adornment.
- •Only Datta Mahapatra servitors are allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum for this 3-4 hour process, after which devotees can witness the deities' 'new youth' form.
Key Questions Answered
The Puri Jagannath Temple remains closed for general devotees for four hours to observe the sacred 'Banakalagi' or 'Srimukha Shringar' ritual.
The Banakalagi ritual is a secret practice where the faces of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshan are repainted and adorned with special natural colors and ingredients.
A special group of servitors known as the Datta Mahapatra are exclusively responsible for entering the sanctum sanctorum to adorn and color the idols during this ritual.
