Devotees visiting the Jagannath Temple will have to wait as public darshan at the shrine will remain suspended for around four-and-a-half hours on Wednesday for the traditional Rahurekha Lagi ritual.
According to the temple administration, general darshan will remain closed from 2:30 PM to 7 PM, tentatively. The restriction will be imposed after the completion of the first Bhogamandap offering.
The Rahurekha Lagi ritual will be performed on the Bhadrab Krishna Panchami tithi. Since it is considered a secret ritual, devotees will not be allowed to have darshan during the ceremony.
Following the first Bhogamandap, the ritual will begin. The Rahurekha ornaments will be brought out from the temple treasury in the presence of the Deulakaran, Tadau Karan and Bhandar Mekap servitors.
The Rahurekha had earlier been removed from the deities following the Snana Purnima ritual, when the deities underwent the ceremonial bathing with 108 pitchers of water. The golden Chita and Rahurekha were subsequently removed as part of the traditional rituals.
During Wednesday’s ritual, after the first Bhogamandap, the Pushpalak servitors will carry out the required rituals and preparations. Bhudevi and Sridevi will also be taken to the Khataseja Ghar.
The Pati Mahapatra servitor will then perform the necessary purification rituals for the Rahurekha. Subsequently, the Badagrahis of the four Badas will place the Rahurekha on the faces of the Chaturdha Murti using prescribed materials.
After the Rahurekha Lagi ritual is completed, the deities will undergo Mahasnan. Following completion of the subsequent rituals, public darshan will resume, the temple administration said.
Devotees have been advised to plan their visit accordingly in view of the temporary suspension of darshan.