Uncertainty hangs over Lord Lingaraj's Sital Sasthi Jatra

A cloud of uncertainty descended over the annual Sital Sasthi Jatra of Lord Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar after the 'Mangan' ritual was cancelled today due to disagreement between servitors.  

Sital Sasthi, which celebrates the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is scheduled for tomorrow. 

As per sources, the 'Mangan' ritual of Lord Lingaraj was cancelled today due to non-cooperation between Brahman and Puja Panda nijogs.

The nijogs acknowledged their non-cooperation and attributed it to non-fulfilment of various demands. 

“The administration has not held discussion with and did not fulfil our demands us so far. Therefore, we have stopped the mangan ritual,” said Biranchi Narayan Pati, secretary of Brahman Nijog.