A prolonged scarcity ofkasturi (deer musk), a key substance used in the Banakalagi rituals of the deities at the Puri Jagannath Temple, has sparked serious concern among servitors, temple scholars, and Jagannath culture experts. The shortage, which has persisted for several years, is now threatening the continuity of ritual practices meant to protect theSri Anga— the sacred bodies of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
The urgency of the issue heightened ahead of the year’s first Banakalagi and Srimukha Sringara rituals. Datta Mohapatra servitors formally appealed to the Central and State governments, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking immediate intervention to procure authentic deer musk. They warned that in recent years, rituals were conducted using only symbolic quantities of musk supplied during the previous Nabakalebara — and at times, even that was unavailable. Concerns have also been raised about the quality of the musk currently being used.
Sanjay Datta Mohapatra, a servitor, stated:
“There is no availability of deer musk and it is not being provided anymore. We request the Odisha government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange deer musk for the protection of Lord Jagannath’s idol.”
According to temple records, kasturi is traditionally mixed with natural colours during Banakalagi and Srimukha Sringara rituals to enhance divine appearance and protect the idols. Deer musk, extracted from the navel of the male musk deer, is believed to have strong insect-repellent properties crucial for safeguarding the deities.
Historically, theKing of Nepalsupplied deer musk to Srimandir, earning special ceremonial honour. However, Nepal discontinued the supply citing legal restrictions on wildlife products, leading to the current shortage.
Jagannath culture experts emphasize that this is a centuries-old ritual practice requiring urgent preservation.Padmanabha Tripathy Sharma noted:
“This is not a one-time ritual. It has continued for centuries, and arrangements for deer musk must be ensured.”
Ganesh Mahasuar, President of the Mahasuar Nijog, echoed the sentiment, urging joint intervention by the Srimandir administration, Odisha government, Indian government, and Nepal authorities.
With Banakalagi rituals now under strain, devotees and servitors await decisive steps to safeguard this sacred and ancient tradition.
