Rituals at the historic Lingaraj Temple were disrupted on the first Monday of Shraavan after a dispute broke out between servitor groups, leaving thousands of devotees without the customary puja.
The disagreement reportedly began Sunday evening over the distribution of the special pauna associated with Shraavan. The clash involved Brahmin servitors and Badu servitors, stalling regular temple proceedings. On Monday morning, while Badu servitors performed their duties, Puja Panda servitors refrained from participating, resulting in suspension of the deity’s puja.
Despite the disruption, thousands of Kanwariyas and Shiva devotees continued to throng the temple, offering water to the deity without formal rituals. The unusual situation left many devotees disheartened, as they had arrived expecting the auspicious puja.
Devotees have urged the servitor groups to resolve their differences quickly and restore normal worship at the shrine, which holds immense spiritual significance during Shraavan.
