Bhubaneswar: The annual lifting of the holy ‘Mahadeepa’ atop the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, as part of the Maha Shivratri festival, has been delayed by 2 hours, according to sources.
Devotees who had been observing a fast were waiting for the lifting of the ‘Mahadeepa’, which would have signaled the breaking of the fast and distribution of prasad. Minister Ashok Chandra Panda reached the temple and spoke to the servitors to address the delay in the rituals.
The temple administration had scheduled the lifting of the ‘Mahadeepa’ at 10 PM, but the rituals associated with the festival were reportedly running 2 hours late. The delay was not specified, but it may have been due to unforeseen circumstances or other factors.
Despite the delay, the lifting of the ‘Mahadeepa’ is a significant event for devotees and marks the end of the festival. The Lingaraj temple is one of the most famous temples in Odisha, and the Maha Shivratri festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. The provision of aid for the event was managed by the temple administration, which also ensured that all necessary arrangements were in place for the devotees.
PNN