Bhubaneswar, August 3: A major disruption in the rituals was witnessed at the Lingaraj Temple in Ekamra Kshetra on Monday, the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan, following a dispute between Brahmin and Badu servitors over the distribution of the traditional Shravan allowance (Shravan Pauna).

The temple's daily rituals have remained suspended since Sunday evening due to the disagreement. While the Badu servitors performed their assigned rituals on Monday morning, the absence of the Puja Panda servitors brought the worship to a standstill, preventing the completion of the temple's regular rituals.

The disruption has left hundreds of devotees and Kanwariyas, who arrived from different parts of the state to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion, disappointed. With the puja remaining suspended, devotees were forced to return after offering only holy water to Lord Shiva, without being able to perform the customary worship.