What Caused the Ritual Disruption at Bhubaneswar's Lingaraj Temple?

Rituals Halted at Lingaraj Temple Due to Servitor Dispute

Bhubaneswar: On Saturday, the rituals at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar were abruptly stopped due to a conflict between two groups of servitors regarding the order of the day's ceremonies.

The disagreement erupted after the Sahana Mela, which allows public viewing of the deity, was held without the traditional Mangala Alati, a morning lamp ritual considered auspicious. This led to tensions between the Badu servitors and the Puja Panda servitors, both essential groups within the temple's service.

This disruption coincided with Sheetal Sasthi, a day celebrated as the 'monsoon wedding' for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, resulting in a complete halt of rituals at the temple. The ongoing impasse also affected the Kedargauri Temple, where the movable idol of Lord Lingaraj is temporarily kept, leading to the suspension of related rituals.

Consequently, the symbolic wedding ceremony of Lord Lingaraj, planned to occur at the Kedargauri Temple, could not take place.

As of the time of this report, temple officials and servitor groups were engaged in discussions to find a resolution and restore normal operations.