Bhubaneswar: The Lingaraj Temple, a revered shrine in Odisha’s capital city, has once again been embroiled in controversy as rituals and worship have come to a grinding halt due to a dispute between servitor groups. The temple’s deity, Lord Lingaraj, has not been offered prasad or worshiped, leaving thousands of devotees distressed.
The dispute, which revolves around issues of authority and tradition, has been ongoing for nearly five years. Despite the temple’s significance and the holy month of Karttik, the administrative system and servitors have failed to find a resolution, sparking widespread condemnation from devotees.
The servitors on duty closed the temple after Surya Puja and Dwarpal Puja, halting all rituals. As a result, Lord Lingaraj has not received any offerings, and devotees have been denied prasad. Many are criticizing the temple officials for not intervening to resolve the dispute.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred at the Lingaraj Temple. In the past, important rituals like Shiva Pabitraropana and Raksha Bandhan ceremonies were disrupted due to similar disputes between servitor groups. Devotees are now urging the authorities to step in and find a solution to the stalemate, ensuring the smooth conduct of rituals and worship at the temple.
