TV
Following their grand arrival at the Gundicha Temple during the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities, the revered Chaturdha Murti- Mahaprabhu Jagannath , Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan, have now taken seats at the sanctified Adapa Mandap, the ceremonial platform within the temple. However, as part of an important internal ritual, public darshan of the deities will be suspended for five hours on Monday.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has officially announced that darshan for devotees will remain closed from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM as the Banakalagi Niti (ritual of facial decoration and cosmetic touch-up) will be performed on the deities.
During this sacred period, the deities undergo an intimate transformation ritual, where their divine appearances are artistically refreshed using natural colours and traditional herbal preparations by the servitors.
This ritual is a deeply symbolic and spiritual aspect of Jagannath culture, signifying restoration and rejuvenation after the long ceremonial journey from Srimandir to the Gundicha Temple, also known as the "Aunt's House."
As per temple tradition, the Lord and His siblings entered the Adapa Mandap in a majestic sequence on Sunday during the Pahandi ritual. First arrived Sudarshan, followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and finally, Mahaprabhu Jagannath, who graced the Janmabedi, the sanctum within Gundicha Temple.
From today, devotees visiting Gundicha Temple will be able to witness the divine Adapa Darshan of the Chaturdha Murti.
Thousands of devotees are expected to throng the temple premises in the coming days to catch a glimpse of the deities in their Adapa Mandap abode, a rare and spiritually uplifting sight.
Meanwhile, the SJTA has made elaborate arrangements for crowd management and smooth darshan during the Adapa period. Devotees have also been urged to cooperate with the temporary restrictions and follow temple guidelines during the ritual hours.
