Banaka Lagi Ritual Of Holy Trinity: Puri Jagannath Temple to remain closed for 4 hours today

The Holy Trinity (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra) along with Lord Sudarshan of Puri Srimandir  will remain out of bounds for devotees for four hours today i.e on Wednesday due to ‘Banaka Lagi’ or Srimukha sringara ritual .

Following the ritual, the general darshan of the deities will be restricted for about four hours, from 6 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday, informed Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA).

The Datta Mahapatra will perform the Srimukha Sringara of the Holy Trinity (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra). The Lords will adorn a new look after a special make-up ritual.

According to culture experts, certain rare forest products are used to prepare the four types of colours- haritala (red), hengula (yellow), sankha (white) and black and these are then applied to the face of the deities.

The formal procedure will be performed on the second Bhoga Mandap behind the Garuda pillar of Jagamohan.

As per tradition, the ‘shringar’ rituals of the sibling deities are generally held seven to eight times a year starting with the one after the Niladri Bije ritual following Rath Yatra.