As per the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), entry for devotees will be barred from 6 pm to 10 pm. This restriction will take effect after the second ‘bhog mandap’ offering, at which point the temple will not be open for visitor darshan.
Typically, the temple remains open until midnight and will welcome devotees again once the scheduled ritual is completed.
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The closure is associated with the ‘Banakalagi Niti’, an important ritual conducted inside the sanctum sanctorum. During this ceremony, servitors use fresh natural colors derived from ingredients like ‘kasturi’ (musk), ‘karpura’ (camphor), ‘hingula’, ‘haritala’ and ‘keshar’ to adorn the faces of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. This ritual, known as ‘Srimukha Sringara’, plays a significant role in temple customs and is performed multiple times throughout the year.
Designated servitors, including members from the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati groups, carry out the process according to established traditions. During this time, the ‘garbhagruha’ (sanctum) remains locked, and devotees are not permitted inside.
Temple authorities have recommended that visitors plan their darshan accordingly and refrain from congregating near the gates during the restricted hours.
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