Rituals hit at Maa Harachandi Temple following dispute between servitors

Cuttack: Rituals at the famous Maa Harachandi Temple at Asureswar of Nischintakoili block has been massively hit owing to a dispute between the servitors for the last three days.

It has been alleged that two groups of servitors engaged in a war of words as the Chapa rituals of the deity was cancelled this year. Reportedly, the ritual was not conducted as the temple’s boat was broken.

“Chapa Yatra could not be held as the boat was broken. This apart, various other problems of the temple are yet to be sorted because of which the temple has been locked,” said Rabindranath Roul, a Sevayat.

As hundreds of devotees who visit the temple from far off places, are returning without having a darshan of Maa Harachandi, some servitors have appealed the temple administration to resolve the issue immediately.

“It is very unfortunate that the rituals of the Goddess have been stopped. Many devotees are returning unhappy as they are deprived of the darshan. The temple administration should chalk out ways and means to resolve the issue,” said another servitor, Abhiram Tripathy.

While one platoon of security personnel has been deployed to avoid any untoward incident, the peace committee of the temple is hopeful of solving the problem as soon as possible. “We are discussing the issue with the servitors in presence of the local administration and police. We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved at the earliest,” stated Girish Ranjan Mahapatra, president of the peace committee.