The Jagannath temple in Puri will remain closed for four hours for devotees on Thursday as the servitors will perform the Banakalagi Niti or ritual.
The SJTA shared on their official X handle and informed, “On Thursday, 13th August 2026, Shrabana Shukla Pratipada tithi, Banakalagi Niti of the Deities will be performed. Therefore, after the completion of Second Bhoga Mandapa offering, public darshan will remain temporarily suspended from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.”
According to tradition, the Banakalagi ritual is executed either on Wednesdays or Thursdays. This is a secret ritual. This ritual is executed by closing all the doors of the temple after the Dwipahara Dhupa. Jagannath temple to remain closed as this is a ‘gupta niti’ or ‘ritual done in private’.
After completion of the second Bhogamandap Bhog, the Banakalagi Niti will be executed in between 6.00 pm to 10 pm today. Darshan of Mahaprabhu will be closed for devotees during this time.
This ritual takes about four hours to complete. During this time the sringar (makeup) is done on the face of the three deities this ritual is called ‘Banakalagi’.
The special servitor group called Datta Mahapatra are engaged to do the rituals. The special colors for the deities are made right inside the temple premises.
Shell is crushed to make white colour, yellow is made from Haritala, and black colour is made out of Hingula. Camphor and saffron are added to these colors to make it smell good.
— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) August 12, 2026
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