Bhubaneswar: Public darshan at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain suspended for nearly four hours on Wednesday evening due to the performance of the sacred Banakalagi Niti (Shrimukha Shringara ritual) of the Chaturddha Vigraha, the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) informed on Tuesday.
The ritual will be observed on Phalguna Krushna Paksha Dasami tithi, which falls on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. As per the schedule, public darshan will remain closed from around 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, following the completion of the second Bhogamantap Bhog.
According to temple tradition, the Banakalagi Niti is a confidential and special ritual performed exclusively by the Datta Mahapatra sevayats on the Ratna Bedi (sacred altar). During this ritual, the holy faces (Shrimukha) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshana are adorned with natural colours and fragrant substances.
Natural ingredients such as Hingula (vermilion red), Haritala (yellow orpiment), powdered Shankha (conch shell white), Kala (black), along with aromatic materials like Kasturi (musk) and Keshara (saffron), are used in preparing the sacred facial decorations. The colours are traditionally mixed with camphor and musk before being applied to the deities.
Temple officials said that following the completion of the Banakalagi Niti, Mahaprabhu will undergo Mahasnana (grand ceremonial bath), after which all temple doors will be reopened and darshan will resume in the usual manner.
The Banakalagi Niti is performed approximately twice every month at the Shri Jagannath Temple and, as per long-standing tradition, is observed only on Wednesdays. During the ritual, all temple doors remain closed, and general public darshan is strictly prohibited.
Devotees visiting the temple on Wednesday have been advised to plan their visit accordingly and cooperate with temple authorities.
