Servitors’ Protest Casts Shadow On Maha Shivratri In Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj Temple

Bhubaneswar: The dispute among servitors of Lingaraj Temple in the Odisha capital has cast a shadow on Maha Shivratri in the 11th-century shrine slated for Thursday.

Monday saw servitors of Brahmana Nijog announcing to stop all rituals of the Lord from Thursday over non-observance of Handi Bhangi, Sital Sasthi and Chandan Yatra since 2015 in both Lingaraj and Kapileswar temples in the city, the New Indian Express reported.

The rituals were stopped following a dispute between Khuntia and Malia sevayats of the temples. These have not been resumed despite an Orissa High Court directive.

“We will not participate in any of Shivratri rituals unless the Endowment Commission, temple and district administration agree to resume these rituals,” secretary of the nijog Biranchi Pati told a presser.

The nijog has filed a written complaint, threatening non-cooperation during Lord Lingaraj and Kapilanath ‘Bheta Ghat’ if the ritual gets delayed like previous years.

The problem is not confined to Brahmana Nijog alone.

“We are yet to get our long-standing ‘Srabani’ dues. The Endowment Commission had assured us to clear the dues but we are yet to get it. Till the time the dues are not cleared, we will not cooperate in any rituals,” threatened Badu nijog secretary Kamalakanta Sahoo.

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation additional commissioner Abani Kanta Patnaik has assured the smooth conduct of the Maha Shivratri rituals.

“Executive officer of the temple has called a meeting of servitors for timely completion of rituals of Lord Lingaraj on Jagara. We are trying to address the demands and concerns of the servitors,” he added.

The meeting also decided that the servitors and police personnel would undergo the COVID-19 test.