Row among servitors’ hits sankranti rituals in Lingaraj
Bhubaneswar: Makar Sankranti rituals at Lingaraj Temple were disrupted on Tuesday following a clash between two groups of servitors on Monday evening.
The Mahasuara (Brahmin Nijog) and Badu Nijog had disagreements over the preparation of “Ghruta Kamala” and other ritualistic duties resulting in the standoff.
“Badu servitors are not allowing us to perform the rituals,” said Biranchi Pati, secretary of Shri Lingaraj Temple Brahmin Nijog. “We are not willing to suspend the rituals, but the circumstances created by them compelled us to do so. However, if the administration had interfered and settled the issue, we might not have disrupted the rituals,” he said.
Countering the allegations, Kamalakanta Badu, secretary of the Badu Nijog, said, “As per tradition, Badu servitors prepare ‘Ghruta Kamala’, but the Mahasuara servitor insisted on conducting the ritual alone. Several rituals of the Lord have been stalled.”
Temple authorities assured devotees that steps were being taken to resolve the issue. “Efforts are on to restore the rituals ,” said Rudranarayan Mohanty, executive officer of Shri Lingaraj Temple. “Meetings are being conducted to resolve the dispute and allocate duties to each servitor. A list is being prepared to specify rituals and their assigned servitors,” he added. Rituals had been disrupted in the temple in August last year.
The Mahasuara (Brahmin Nijog) and Badu Nijog had disagreements over the preparation of “Ghruta Kamala” and other ritualistic duties resulting in the standoff.
“Badu servitors are not allowing us to perform the rituals,” said Biranchi Pati, secretary of Shri Lingaraj Temple Brahmin Nijog. “We are not willing to suspend the rituals, but the circumstances created by them compelled us to do so. However, if the administration had interfered and settled the issue, we might not have disrupted the rituals,” he said.
Countering the allegations, Kamalakanta Badu, secretary of the Badu Nijog, said, “As per tradition, Badu servitors prepare ‘Ghruta Kamala’, but the Mahasuara servitor insisted on conducting the ritual alone. Several rituals of the Lord have been stalled.”
Temple authorities assured devotees that steps were being taken to resolve the issue. “Efforts are on to restore the rituals ,” said Rudranarayan Mohanty, executive officer of Shri Lingaraj Temple. “Meetings are being conducted to resolve the dispute and allocate duties to each servitor. A list is being prepared to specify rituals and their assigned servitors,” he added. Rituals had been disrupted in the temple in August last year.
