Lingaraj Temple Servitor Dispute Resolved

Bhubaneswar: The ongoing dispute between the servitors of Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj Temple has been resolved, bringing an end to the disruption of rituals, confirmed Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana after attending a meeting of the Temple’s Trust Board today.
Speaking to the media, Collector Rana stated that the conflict, which had halted temple rituals, was addressed during the Trust Board meeting. The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) has been tasked with filing a detailed report within 24 hours. Based on this report, strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
“The accused servitors will be served show-cause notices, and action will be taken against them as per Section 32 of the Trust Board regulations,” the Collector assured.
The meeting was attended by concerned officials and representatives from the Pujapanda Nijog and Badu Nijog, the two groups involved in the dispute. With the matter now resolved, rituals at the Lingaraj Temple are expected to return to normal.
Earlier, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan convened a meeting to address the issue, but it reportedly ended inconclusively, leading to the subsequent Trust Board meeting.
The dispute began when the Mahasura and Badu servitors clashed over who would perform the ‘Ghruta Kamala’ ritual on Makar Sankranti. As a result, the presiding deity remained without food since Monday evening, as the deity was seated outside the sanctum for the ritual.
Law Minister Harichandan has warned of strict measures if such disruptions occur again, emphasizing the need to maintain the sanctity of the rituals at the temple.