Bhubaneswar, 15 January (H.S.): Normal rituals at the Lord Lingaraj Temple resumed on Thursday morning after a dispute between the Badu Nijog and Suara Nijog servitors was amicably resolved.

According to sources, temple rituals had come to a halt since the Sandhya Dhupa on Tuesday following a disagreement between the two servitor groups. Due to the impasse, the presiding deity remained without offerings from Tuesday evening, and even the Makara Sankranti rituals could not be performed on Wednesday.

The dispute reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over the performance of the Kheera Aauta ritual, a significant offering during Makara Sankranti, with both servitor groups staking claim to the right to perform it. Following resolution of the issue, rituals resumed with the conduct of Mangala Alati and Dhadi Darshan on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, Ekamra–Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh expressed serious concern over the suspension of rituals at the temple, terming the incident “highly unfortunate.” He said the disruption had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of devotees and warned of strict action against those responsible.

The MLA подчеркed that servitors are entrusted with performing rituals and not with taking unilateral decisions to halt them. He urged all servitor groups to respect temple traditions and ensure that devotees’ faith and emotions are safeguarded.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda