Lingaraj Temple Rituals Halted for Hours After Servitor Dispute on Shravan Monday

Bhubaneswar, August 3: Rituals at the historic Lingaraj Temple were disrupted for nearly eight hours on the first Shravan Monday after a dispute broke out between Brahmin and Badu servitors over the distribution of Shravan Bhog Pāuṇā (offerings).

Thousands of devotees, who had queued overnight for darshan, were left disappointed as the rituals came to a standstill.

Devotees were only able to perform jalalagi (water offering) before returning without full worship.

The Badu servitors alleged that despite a 2024 court directive granting them half of the offerings, they were denied their share.

When they pressed for it, Brahmin servitors reportedly halted the rituals.

Temple administration and trust officials intervened, holding meetings with both groups to resolve the deadlock.

After hours of negotiation, rituals resumed, and devotees were finally allowed darshan.

Servitors noted that such disputes recur frequently due to the absence of a permanent solution, despite repeated appeals to the temple trust.