Banakalagi of Sri Jagannath Tomorrow, No Darshan for 4 Hours

Puri: Devotees will miss the darshan of deities of the revered Shree Jagannath temple in Puri for four hours on Wednesday because of the Banakalagi ritual.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the public darshan will be prohibited from 6 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday because of the Banakalagi ritual.

Banakalagi Niti or Shrimukha Sringara ritual is the application of fresh colours to the idols. The Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors perform this ritual.

According to cultural experts, Banakalagi derives its name from ‘Bana’ which means forest and ‘Lagi’ means to apply.

Certain and rare forest products are used to prepare four types of colours- such as haritala (red), hengula (yellow), sankha (white), and black are applied on the face of the deities.