Bhubaneswar, Aug 11: Devotees planning to visit the Puri Jagannath Temple on Wednesday, August 12, will need to adjust their schedules as general darshan will remain suspended for five hours to allow traditional Chitalagi Amavasya rituals to be performed.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said public darshan will be unavailable from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The temporary closure will allow the temple’s scheduled rituals to be carried out without interruption.
Chitalagi Amavasya is an important festival in Odisha, observed on the new moon day of the month of Shravan. The occasion has special significance at Srimandir, when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are adorned with their traditional golden Chitas.
The Chitas are precious ornaments placed on the foreheads of the three deities. They are removed before Snana Purnima and the Rath Yatra and are ceremonially restored during the Chitalagi Amavasya rituals.
The temple administration said the Chitalagi Niti will be performed after the first Bhoga Mandapa offering. Once the scheduled rituals are completed, public darshan will resume for devotees.
For pilgrims, the temporary suspension is an important timing update, especially for those travelling to Puri specifically for darshan. Visitors are advised to plan their temple visit accordingly.
The festival extends beyond the temple and remains closely connected with Odisha’s household traditions. Families across the state observe the day with traditional customs and prepare Chitau Pitha, a rice-based delicacy associated with Chitalagi Amavasya.
The observance reflects the deep connection between Srimandir’s rituals and Odisha’s wider cultural life, where temple traditions continue to influence festivals, food and family celebrations.
For devotees, Chitalagi Amavasya is therefore not simply a change in temple schedule. It is an occasion that brings together faith, tradition and the cultural identity of Odisha.
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