Puri: Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri will remain out of bounds for devotees for four hours on Wednesday for the Banakalagi Niti (facial ritual) of the sibling deities.
Darshan will remain restricted from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Banaka Lagi or Srimukha Simhar Niti is performed using ‘kasturi’, ‘harital’, ‘karpura’, ‘kesar’, ‘kalasankha’ and ‘dhalasankha’. The garbhagruha or sanctum sanctorum of the temple remains closed and no outsiders are allowed inside during this ritual which is performed by Datta Mahapatra servitors. Through this ritual, the Lords always remain fresh and attractive for the devotees.
