The sacred Banakalagi ritual will be performed at the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Wednesday, during which the temple will remain closed for four hours, from 6 pm to 10 pm.
The ritual, also known as Shrimukha Sringara, is one of the most ancient and divine ceremonies of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. It signifies the renewal of divine energy, where the Lords are adorned with fresh natural colours.
Traditional servitors of the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati families carry out this sacred duty. They prepare the Banaka using natural substances like Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshar, Kaintha glue, Karpura, and the essence of sacred conch shells.
During the Banakalagi Niti, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple remains completely closed to the public. Only the servitors are allowed inside to anoint the Lords’ faces with devotion and precision.
This divine ritual is performed either on a Wednesday or Thursday, symbolizing rejuvenation of the divine forms and the eternal bond between the Lord and His devotees.
As the Banakalagi unfolds, the temple resonates with centuries of tradition, reminding every devotee that divinity is ever-living, ever-renewing.
