Bhubaneswar, 20 May (H.S.): Public darshan at the Jagannath Temple will remain suspended from 6 PM to 10 PM on Wednesday due to the performance of the sacred Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath and His siblings.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, the temporary restriction has been imposed to facilitate the smooth conduct of the ritual on the occasion of Jyeshtha Krishna Chaturthi.

The Banakalagi ritual, also known as Shreemukha Shringara, will commence after the completion of the second Bhoga Mandap offering. As part of the ceremony, the sibling deities will undergo Mahasnana (ceremonial bathing) followed by special facial adornment rituals.

The ritual will be performed by the Dutta Mohapatra sevayats, who traditionally use natural substances for decorating the deities. These include conch shell powder for white colour, lamp soot for black, Haritala for red, and Hingula for yellow. Kasturi is also applied as part of the sacred process to preserve and protect the idols.

Devotees have been advised to plan their visit accordingly, as general darshan will resume after completion of the ritual at 10 PM.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda