Lord Jagannath’s Banakalagi ritual embroiled in 'duplicate Kasturi' controversy

The Srimandir in Puri is embroiled in a fresh controversy after a servitor alleged that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) provides substandard or duplicate materials for use in the Banakalagi ritual of the Holy Trinity.

The controversy was triggered after a delay in the Banakalagi ritual infuriated the devotees and the Dattamohapatra servitors entrusted to conduct the ritual. As per reports, it has been 17 days since the Niladri Bije, but the Banakalagi ritual which as per the rule book should have been conducted at least four times in a month, has not been conducted even once.

As per reports, amidst the controversy, a meeting headed by SJTA chief, Ranjan Kumar Das was held on the office premises. A decision to conduct the Banakalagi ritual every Wednesday was taken in the meeting. Sources said, despite Dattamohapatra servitors demanding the ritual to be held on Thursday, the decision to conduct it on Wednesday was upheld in the meeting.

Speaking on the decision, Dattamohapatra servitor, Sanjay Dattamohapatra said, “As per the rules, Banakalagi should have been conducted immediately after the Niladri Bije of Lord Jagannath. As per the Srimandir record of rights, it should be conducted on Thursdays. However, it can be done on Wednesdays in an emergency. But the SJTA is trying to abolish the record of rights by forcing us to conduct Banakalagi every Wednesday.”

However, senior servitor, Binayak Dasmohapatra said, “We had already discussed the issue of conducting the ritual on any other day than Wednesday. After a lot of deliberations, Thursday was picked to conduct the Banakalagi ritual. However, the Marjana ritual of Maa Laxmi, Maa Saraswati, and Lord Madanamohana is conducted on Thursday. So to avoid delay of Mahaprabhu’s ritual it was later decided that the Banakalagi will be conducted on Wednesdays.”

Asked about the delay in the ritual and the controversy around it, SJTA Chief, Ranjan Kumar Das said, “After discussing the issue with all the stakeholders, we have finally decided to conduct the Banakalagi ritual every Wednesday.”

On the other hand, the servitor also brought serious allegations against SJTA for providing substandard or duplicate materials for the ritual.

“We do not have Kasturi. The Kasturi temple administration is providing us does not have any fragrance. It is duplicate Kasturi. In fact, all the materials now used in Banakalagi ritual are substandard,” Dattamohapatra alleged.

No comments on the allegations have been received from the SJTA.