Rituals Halted at Lingaraj Temple

Bhubaneswar: The rituals at the historic Lingaraj Temple remain suspended for the third consecutive day following an ongoing dispute among servitors. As a result, Lord Lingaraj has not been offered bhog, leaving devotees disheartened during the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti.
The controversy erupted on January 13 when an argument broke out among the temple servitors over the performance of a ritual. According to sources, the issue arose after the Pushyabhishek Dhupa ritual on Monday, when Lord Lingaraj was taken to the Makar Mandap for the Dudha Abhishek ritual. Traditionally, this ritual is conducted by the Mahasuar Niyog servitors and is followed by the Ghrutya Kamala ritual. However, disagreements surfaced when the Badu Niyog servitors insisted on performing the ritual independently, leading to protests from the Mahasuar Niyog.
The dispute has resulted in the suspension of the temple’s daily Niti Kanti (ritual schedule), with no resolution in sight. Although the temple remains open to visitors and Sahana Mela darshan continues, no rituals are currently being performed.
The Niyog servitors have stated that rituals will only resume after the involved parties seek forgiveness. Devotees have expressed frustration and sorrow over the situation, particularly during a festival as significant as Makar Sankranti.
In response to the controversy, a high-level meeting was convened at the residence of Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan. The meeting was attended by the Debottar Commissioner, Khurda Collector, Secretary of the Law Department, local MLA, and representatives of the opposing servitor groups. Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken following a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, devotees and cultural enthusiasts hope for a swift resolution to restore normalcy at the revered temple.