Lord Jagannath To Get Fresh Make-Up During ‘Banaka Lagi’ Ritual Today

Puri: Banaka Lagi ritual of Lord Jagannath will be performed on the fourth day of His stay in Gundicha Temple in Puri on Friday.

Among various rituals that are followed during the stay of Lod Jagannath and His siblings in Gundicha Temple, Banaka Lagi holds significance as it is performed on the eve of the Hera Panchami which is celebrated on the fifth day when Goddess Laxmi visits the temple.

According to servitor to Manoj Kumar Dasmohapatra, on Hera Panchami, Goddess Laxmi comes to the temple to have darshan of Lord Jagannath and enquire about His well-being.

During Banaka Lagi ritual, servitors prepare Lord Jagannath to meet the Goddess. “Since the Lord gets tired due to the strain endured during Pahandi Bije, the servitors clean His face and give a fresh make-up so that He can meet Goddess Laxmi next day. A new coat of natural colours is applied on His face during the ritual,” said Dasmohapatra.

The colours of white, black and yellow are herbal-based and are prepared from Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshar, and the glue of Kaintha according to age-old tradition, he said.

The servitors will carry out the beautification work while the Lords will be seated on the Mandap after the afternoon puja. It is followed by other rituals till the Lords retire for the day, the servitor said.

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