Puri: The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has informed devotees that public darshan of the deities at the Adapa Mandapa of Shri Gundicha Temple will remain closed from 9 PM on Sunday (July 19) for the Banakalagi Niti and other scheduled rituals.As several important rituals are to be performed during this period, devotees will not be allowed to have darshan tonight.The administration has further announced that public darshan will resume on Monday morning after the Mangala Aalati, once the rituals are completed.Therefore, the devotees have been advised to plan their visit to the Gundicha Temple accordingly and seek the blessings.
It is to be noted here that the Banakalagi ritual is secret and special ritual holds a lot of significance in the tradition of the Srimandir. Banakalagi Niti or Shrimukha Sringara means applying fresh colours on the idols of the deities.The Dutta Mohapatra Sevakas (Servitors) and Khadiprasad Daetapati Servitors perform the rituals by using different types of natural colors like Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshar, glue of Kaintha. These ingredients were used to prepare a Banaka, which was applied to Lord Jagannath and his siblings in Srimandir.
