A major controversy has erupted at the historic Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar after rituals were halted on Makar Sankranti.
A devotee lodged a written complaint at Lingaraj Police Station against Temple Executive Officer Rudranarayan Mohanty, alleging negligence that led to the disruption.
According to the complaint filed by Amarendra Garabadu, disputes between Brahmin Nijog and Badu Nijog over the Ghrutakambal and Kheera Aauta rituals triggered the suspension of all temple services from Tuesday evening. As a result, Lord Lingaraj remained without offerings on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, sparking widespread resentment among devotees. Many termed the incident “extremely unfortunate.”
The rituals resumed the following day after the dispute was resolved, and darshan for devotees restarted. However, reactions continue to pour in. Garabadu stated, “I will fight till the end for Lord Lingaraj. If necessary, I will move court.” He alleged that negligence by temple administration allowed disputes among servitors to escalate, leading to the halt in rituals.
Police officials confirmed that the complaint has been registered in the station diary and an investigation is underway. They noted that the incident has once again highlighted the long-standing disputes between temple administration and servitors. The Executive Officer has been asked to present his explanation, and the police warned that further action would follow if his response is unsatisfactory.
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