Enlisted as Puri Srimandir servitor, 6-month-old offers service to deities

Six-month-old Swastik Dutta Mohapatra has officially been enlisted as the servitor of the Srimandir in Puri. 

After being enlisted as the servitor of the temple, Swastik, son of ‘Banakalagi’ servitor Rati Dutta Mohapatra, engaged himself in the Banakalagi service of the deities. 

As per the tradition, just like the kids of servitors get inducted into Daitapati Nijog, the kids of Dutta Mohapatra servitors too enter the Srimandir and get enlisted as servitors. 

“He had performed the ‘Khadi Lagi’ ritual yesterday and today he will do some secret rituals,” said Swastik’s father. 

Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are taken ill after the ceremonial bath on Snana Purnima. They are then taken to the ‘Anasara Gruha’ (quarantine) where they recuperate. During this period, the deities are kept away from the public view. On Khalilagi Ekadasi, the 11th day of the waning phase of the moon in the month of June-July (Odia month of Asadha), a soft pulp-like paste prepared from wheat flour and sandalwood is massaged on the bodies of the deities. After ‘Raja Prasad Bije’ or ‘Khadi Prasad Bije’ and ‘Sripayara Puja’ rituals, an important ‘Khadilagi’ ritual is performed in which the idols are applied with a fine paste prepared from powdered conch shells. Then the final layer of natural paints and organic materials is applied. This is known as ‘Banaka Lagi’ ritual.