Sevayat dispute halts rituals at Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on Makar Sankranti

A dispute among sevayats at Lingaraj Temple in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar has once again halted rituals of Lord Lingaraj, even on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti on Wednesday. The past disputes between the Badu and Suar Nijogs has intensified, disrupting the rituals of the temple since yesterday. The standoff has halted all offerings before Baba Lingaraj, triggering widespread resentment among devotees.

According to sources, the dispute erupted over the ‘Kheera Aauta’ ritual, resulting in a heated argument over who would perform the niti. As a result of the dispute, no rituals have been conducted since the Sandhya Dhupa yesterday.

Repeated Disruptions Reported In The Past

Similar disruption between the Badu and Suar Nijogs has been reported in the past, halting rituals of Lord Lingaraj. Last year, during the Nabanka Bedha ritual of Lord Lingaraj, a dispute had arisen between the groups over the performance of the ‘Kheera Aauta’. Considering the clashes, the Temple Trust Board Chairman and District Collector intervened and issued a directive to resolve the issue.
As per the issued order, on the eve of Makar Sankranti, the Paraba Yatra Bisoyi was instructed to arrange firewood and prepare a temporary stove for the Kheera Aauta, while the Ghanta and Megha Dambara servitors were directed to perform the Ghrita Kamala ritual.

However, Badu Nijog Secretary Kamalakanta Badu filed a petition in the High Court, terming the District Collector’s directive as illegal. During the hearing, the court ordered that the Nabanka Bedha ritual of the deity be kept in abeyance until the next date of hearing.

As a consequence, the Nabanka Bedha ritual has remained suspended since yesterday evening, informed Lingaraj Temple Supervisor Rajkishore Mohapatra. With the rituals of Baba Lingaraj not being conducted even on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti today, intense dissatisfaction has been witnessed among devotees.