Lifting of Mahadeepa atop Lingaraj Temple delayed by 3 hours

Bhubaneswar: Devotees have expressed displeasure over delay in the lifting of Mahadeepa atop the Lingaraj Temple in Odisha capital on the occasion of Maha Shivratri yesterday.

While the Mahadeepa was scheduled to be placed atop the centuries-old temple at 10 PM, the ritual was conducted at 1.10 AM following which many devotees broke their fast.

Delay in the rituals of the deity after opening of the temple on the day of Maha Shivratri caused the delay in lifting of Mahadeepa, reports said.

Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi held the local administration responsible for the incident. She said negligence on the part of the administration caused the delay. The concerned authorities should have met the servitors of the temple for discussion to ensure timely conduct of the rituals, the parliamentarian said.