The temple administration has announced that the darshan of Mahaprabhu will be closed for 4.5 hours tomorrow due to a ritual known as "Banakalagi Niti".
This secret service policy involves decorating the deity's face with natural cosmetics and colours.
Key Details:
The Jayavijay Dwar will be closed after the second Bhogamandap Bhog tomorrow.
Banakalagi Niti: The ritual will start at 6:30 pm and continue until 11 pm, during which time the temple will be closed to the public.
The Datta Mahapatra servants will decorate Mahaprabhu's face with traditional colours like camphor, hingul, green, musk, red, white, and black, using natural colors prepared specifically for this purpose.
In the context of Odisha's temple traditions, the use of natural resources and plants in rituals is a common practice. The Jagannath Temple in Puri, for instance, has a long history of using wood from specific tree species for the construction of chariots during the annual Rath Yatra festival. This practice highlights the connection between nature and spirituality in Odisha's cultural heritage.