Bhubaneswar: Rituals at Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj Temple were disrupted on Wednesday after a dispute among servitors, leaving the Lord without food offerings overnight and thousands of devotees distressed.
The halt in rituals from Tuesday has affected observance of Makar Sankranti, a major Hindu festival marking the sun’s transition into Capricorn, when thousands of devotees typically gather for darshan and offerings.
Rituals were halted following a clash between Badu Nijog and Suar Nijog servitor groups over the performance of the Kheera Aauta ritual, a key offering during Makar Sankranti. The disagreement escalated, leading to suspension of all offerings, including the Makar Chaula (a sacred mix of rice, jaggery, banana, coconut, sesame seeds and milk).
The Sandhya Dhupa (evening ritual) on January 13 was not performed. The deity was put to rest (Pahuda) late at night without food, leaving Lord Lingaraj without offerings throughout the night.
On Makar Sankranti morning, no puja, bhoga or prasad distribution took place, breaking centuries-old tradition. The key rituals which have been suspended include Makar Chaula offering to the deity, Kheera Aauta ritual, central to Sankranti observances and daily food offerings (bhoga), leaving the deity symbolically unfed.
Thousands of devotees who had gathered for Sankranti darshan were left disappointed. Many expressed anguish at being denied participation in rituals considered highly auspicious for prosperity and blessings. This is the second consecutive year that Makar Sankranti rituals have been disrupted due to unresolved servitor disputes.
Notably, a petition was filed in the Orissa High Court challenging the Khurda Collector’s December 24, 2025 order that attempted to settle servitor rights. A division bench of the HC ruled on Tuesday that the Collector is not competent to decide servitor rights and the Assistant Commissioner of Endowments has statutory authority to adjudicate disputes over rituals. The High Court stayed the Collector’s order, leaving the matter pending for further hearing. The High Court’s intervention is expected to set a precedent for clarifying servitor rights and preventing future disruptions.
