Puri: The Banakalagi Niti Puri Jagannath Temple ritual will lead to a temporary closure of darshan for devotees for about four hours on March 5 evening. The administration of Jagannath Temple confirmed that the temple doors will remain shut while the sacred ritual is performed.
The ceremony will be conducted on Dwitiya of Krushna Pakshya in the month of Chaitra, a traditional day for the Banakalagi ritual dedicated to the deities of the temple.
Banakalagi Niti Puri Jagannath Temple: Ritual Timings
According to temple tradition, the Banakalagi Niti is carried out either on Wednesdays or Thursdays. The ritual will begin after completion of the second Bhogamandap Bhog.
The temple is expected to remain closed for devotees between 6 PM and 10 PM, during which darshan of Lord Jagannath and the sibling deities will not be allowed.
All doors of the temple are shut during this period to maintain the sanctity and secrecy of the ritual.
Sacred Facial Decoration of the Deities
During the ritual, special servitors known as Datta Mahapatras climb the Ratna Singhasana to perform the Srimukha Sringar, which means decorating the faces of the deities.
The facial makeup applied during this ceremony is called Banakalagi in temple tradition. It involves applying specially prepared natural colours and fragrances to the faces of the deities.
The data suggests this ritual has been preserved for centuries as one of the temple’s most sacred and confidential practices.
Preparation of the Sacred Colours
The colours used for the Banakalagi ritual are prepared inside a designated chamber known as the Banakalagi House, located on the northern side of the inner temple complex.
Natural ingredients are used instead of commercial dyes. White colour is prepared by crushing shells, yellow is derived from Haritala, and black is made using Hingula. Camphor and saffron are added to the mixture, along with perfumes such as musk.
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What the market is missing is the level of craftsmanship involved in these rituals. The saffron and natural compounds help maintain the brightness and smooth appearance of the deities’ faces.
Once the ritual concludes, the temple doors reopen and devotees are allowed to resume darshan at Srimandir.
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