Rituals Stalled At Lingaraj Temple In Bhubaneswar; Know The Ongoing Dispute

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Maha Shivratri, the rituals of the Lord in the Lingaraj Temple in the Odisha capital were disrupted on Wednesday following a dispute between the two sevayat bodies over the suspension of three traditional rituals since 2015.

According to sources, the rituals of the temple have been suspended after Abakasha and Mailam nitis in the morning.

While the sevayats of the Badu Nijog have demanded their dues for the Shravani Bhara (a temple ritual), the Brahmana Nijog has demanded the resumption of the three traditional rituals of the temple that have been suspended since 2015.

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Talking to the media, Brahmana Nijog secretary Biranchi Narayan Pati said there has been a break in the centuries-old tradition of the temple with the non-observance of the rituals like Handi Bhanga, Chandan Yatra and Sital Sasthi.

Stating that Lingaraj and Kapileswar temples are related in many ways as far as rituals are concerned, he said although the Orissa High Court had directed the Endowment Commissioner to make provision for smooth conduct of the rituals, no steps have been taken far.

Pati also said that the state government, which is keen on bringing in the Lingaraj Temple Act, 2020, for the proper administration of the shrine, has not taken any steps to resolve the protracted dispute to resume the three rituals which are an integral part of the 11th-century shrine.

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Apprehending disruption of the temple rituals during Maha Shivratri on Thursday, a meeting has begun in the presence of the temple administrator Prasanna Kumar Das, BMC additional commissioner, Endowment Commissioner and the Khurda collector to resolve the dispute.

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