Impasse Ends, Banakalagi Ritual of Sri Jagannath Tomorrow

Puri: The Banakalagi rituals of the deities of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will be held tomorrow (Wednesday).

The Banakalagi ritual of the deities could not be performed after the end of Rathyatra on Niladri Bije because of the impasse over the day on which this ritual should be performed.

Defying Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) order, the Dutta Mohapatra Nijog that performs this ritual denied to perform it on Wednesdays. They wanted to perform the ritual on Thursdays.

Now as per the decision at Puri Srimandir Managing Committee meeting held last week, the Dutta Mohapatra sevayats have agreed to conduct the Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath on Wednesday.

According to a notification of the SJTA, the Banakalagi ritual will be conducted after the end of the second Bhoga Mandap. Because of this ritual, devotees will be barred from having darshan of the deities from 6 pm to 11 pm on Wednesday.

As per tradition, the ‘shringar’ rituals of the sibling deities are generally held seven to eight times a year starting with the one after the Niladri Bije ritual following Rath Yatra.

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.