Chitalagi Amavasya: Puri Srimandir to remain out of bounds for devotees for 4 hours today

General darshan at Lord Jagannath temple in Puri will remain restricted for four hours in view of special rituals of the Holy Trinity to be performed on the occasion of Chitalagi Amavasya on Monday.

According to sources, the 12th century shrine will remain out of bounds for visitors from 2 pm to 6 pm today.

The foreheads of the sibling deities are adorned with golden mark called ‘Chita. But it is replaced with ‘Chita’ made up of thermocol when the Holy Trinity goes on their annual sojourn to Gundicha Temple.

As part of the Chitalagi Amavasya rituals, the temporary ‘chita’ is removed and the foreheads of the sibling deities are adorned with ‘Chita’ made up of gold, diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire.

While Lord Balabhadra will be adorned with ‘Nila Chita’, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra will be decked up in diamond Chita and ‘Manikya Chita’ respectively. 

Besides, a special type of rice cake named ‘chitau’ is offered to the sibling deities at the temple.

Notably, Chitalagi Amavasya is observed on the new moon day of the lunar month of Shravana.