Bhubaneswar: Unprecedented scenes of chaos unfolded today at the 11th-century Lord Lingaraj temple during the sacred Maha Shivratri celebrations, as a physical confrontation broke out between temple servitors and police personnel. The clash, which left devotees in shock, led to a temporary suspension of temple rituals on one of the most auspicious days of the year.
The incident reportedly began, when a disagreement erupted near the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. Sources indicate the friction started when several servitors attempted to bring their family members into the temple for darshan through restricted areas, bypassing the heavy queues of devotees. When police officers deployed for festival security intervened to manage the crowd and enforce protocol, the verbal spat quickly turned into a physical scuffle.
Witnesses described a scene of pushing and shoving that escalated as more servitors and security personnel became involved. The tension reached a breaking point within the temple premises, forcing a halt to the ongoing “niti-kanti” (rituals). For a brief period, the spiritual atmosphere was replaced by shouting and disorder, a situation many regular visitors claimed was without precedent during such a major festival.
Tensions have already been simmering at the shrine recently. Just last month during Makar Sankranti, rituals were halted for two days due to a legal and administrative dispute between the Brahmin and Badu Nijog groups over the “Kheera Aauta” ritual. Today’s clash with the police has further highlighted the fragile state of temple management and the ongoing friction between the traditional servitor groups and the local administration.
Senior police officials and temple trust members rushed to the spot to mediate. Following an emergency meeting, the situation was brought under control and rituals were allowed to resume so the “Mahadipa” could be raised as scheduled later tonight. While no official injuries were reported, the administration has warned of strict action after reviewing CCTV footage.
The Commissionerate Police had earlier warned against the use of unauthorized passes and strictly regulated entry for the festival. It appears the attempt to bypass these security measures served as the spark for today’s confrontation.