Bhubaneswar: General darshan at the Puri Jagannath Temple will remain suspended for devotees for five hours on Wednesday, August 12, to facilitate the observance of Chitalagi Amavasya rituals, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said on Tuesday.
According to the temple administration, the Chitalagi Niti of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be performed on the Shrabana Krushna Amabasya tithi. After the completion of the first Bhoga Mandapa offering, public darshan will remain temporarily suspended from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Chitalagi Amavasya, also called Chitau Amavasya, is a significant traditional Odia festival celebrated on the new moon day of the month of Shravan. On this day, the deities at Srimandir are adorned with their gem-studded golden Chitas, which are placed on their foreheads as part of a special ritual. These Chitas are removed before Snana Purnima ahead of the annual Rath Yatra and are ceremonially reattached to the deities on Chitalagi Amavasya.
Chitalagi Amavasya is also associated with the popular traditional delicacy Chitau Pitha, a special rice-based pancake prepared in households across the state as part of the festival celebrations.
