Ahead of Shivaratri, Lingaraj sevayats threaten stir

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR :  Sevayats of Lord Lingaraj have threatened to droop all rituals of the Lingaraj shrine previous to Maha Shivaratri if the district administration and Endowment Commission don’t resolve the dispute over observance of rituals like ‘Handi Bhanga’, Chandan Yatra and Sital Sasthi.

The rituals have been suspended since 2015 because of the dispute between Khuntia and Malia servitors of each the Lingaraj and Kapileswar temples.  Members of Brahmana Nijog and Pujapanda Nijog of Lingaraj temple mentioned if the district administration and Endowment Commission don’t take steps to resolve the dispute and restore the rituals, they may cease all different rituals associated to Lord Lingaraj from Wednesday in protest. 

Secretary of Brahmana Nijog Biranchi Narayan Pati mentioned with non-observance of the rituals, there was a break within the centuries-old custom of the temple. “At a time when the State government is keen on bringing in the Lingaraj Temple Act, 2020, for proper administration of the shrine, why has it not yet taken measures to resolve the dispute and resume the rituals which are an integral part of the 11th century shrine”, he requested. 

He added that regardless of a ruling by the Orissa High Court directing the Endowment Commission to make provision for easy conduct of the rituals, no steps have been taken by the officers involved. The Lingaraj and Kapileswar temples are associated in some ways so far as rituals are involved.