Puri, Aug 2 : Lord Jagannath, his elder Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Sudarshan in Sri Jagannath temple were deprived of their regular facials for one month.

The “Banak lagi” ( facial service of the Lords) impasse continues due to a faceoff between the Duttamahapatra nijog and the temple administration over the fixation of the day of every week for observance of the ritual.

While Duttamahapatras insists on that the ritual be observed on every Wednesday the administration refering to Bamadeb Samhita, a religious guide book followed by all for observance of nittees and rituals in Sri Jagannath temple, directed the nijog to perform it on every Thursday.

After parleys with Duttamahapatra nijog and other nijogs of the temple, the situation did not improve.

Sri Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator has referred the issue to the temple sub committee for rituals but the committee advised to place the matter before the temple managing committee scheduled for Aug. 1st.

Unfortunately the meeting was cancelled by the administration without stating any cause and the stalemate over the rituals continues.

When contacted Sanjay Duttamahapatra, a senior functionary of the nijog said they are yet to receive the administration letter in this regard.

He said “We are ready to do it even on the Wednesday but there is no instruction from the administration” “

The devotees are a worried lot as the Banak laagi seva has not been performed since one month. They urged both the parties to resolve the issue at the earliest for larger interest of devotees.