Puri Srimandir: First 'Banaka Lagi’ rituals of Trinity after Niladri Bije

Puri: Sibling deities Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra will adorn new looks today with the servitors all set to perform Banaka Lagi rituals on the Holy Trinity.

Sources said Datta Mohapatra servitors will perform Banaka Lagi, the traditional 'shringar' (face make-up) of the deities.

In view of the secret rituals, the general darshan of the deities will be restricted for four hours from 4 pm to 8 pm. Temple administration sources said the rituals will be performed on the second Bhoga Mandap, a place behind the Garuda pillar of Jagamohan.

This is the first Banaka Lagi of the Trinity after their Niladri Bije ritual following Rath Yatra.

"The Lords look a bit dull after the tiring Rath Yatra festivities and so the servitors apply fresh make up using traditional organic colours. Bana means forest and Lagi means apply. Certain rare products derived from it are used to prepare four types of colours- such as haritala (red), hengula (yellow), sankha (white) and black which are used to beautify the faces of the Lords and the Devi. The entire process of applying colours takes few hours of judicious painting and hence the name- Banaka Lagi,” informed culture expert Surya Narayan Ratha Sharma.