Bhubaneswar: The Lingaraj Temple, a revered shrine in Odisha’s capital city, has once again been embroiled in controversy as rituals and worship have come to a grinding halt due to a dispute between servitor groups. The temple’s deity, Lord Lingaraj, has not been offered prasad or worshiped, leaving thousands of devotees distressed.

The dispute, which revolves around issues of authority and tradition, has been ongoing for nearly five years. Despite the temple’s significance and the holy month of Karttik, the administrative system and servitors have failed to find a resolution, sparking widespread condemnation from devotees.

The servitors on duty closed the temple after Surya Puja and Dwarpal Puja, halting all rituals. As a result, Lord Lingaraj has not received any offerings, and devote

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