‘Handi Bhanga’ Ritual Of Lord Lingaraj Suspended For Sixth Consecutive Year

Bhubaneswar: The long-standing dispute between two sects of servitors has once again resulted in suspension of ‘Handi Bhanga’ ritual at Lingaraj Temple here.

It was for the sixth consecutive time  that the ritual was disrupted at the 11th century shrine.

During the ‘Handi Bhanga’ ritual, which is to be conducted every year on the first Saturday after Mahashivratri, Lord Lingaraj is taken out in a procession to Kapileswar Temple and brought back after being worshipped there.

The ritual has not been conducted since 2015 following a dispute between the priests of Lingaraj and Kapileswar temples. The disagreement persists despite multiple attempts by the temple administration and the State government to resolve it.

The meeting with ‘Maliya’ and ‘Khuntiya’ sevayats of Kapileswar Temple remained inconclusive after the former declined to conduct the rituals and walked out of it, sources said.

Amid apprehension over the conduct of the special neeti, all other rituals of the Lord were also stalled.