Dhenkanal: The daily rituals of Lord Chandrashekharjew, the presiding deity at the famous Shaivite shrine of Kapilash in this district, were thrown out of gear, Thursday after three priests and six supakars (cooks) resigned from service demanding a pay hike. As a result, no rituals could be conducted in time at the shrine in the wee hours of Thursday till 2 pm with the deity having to remain without any offerings till 2 pm. Normalcy returned to the shrine after the Endowment department hired priests from outside and conducted the rituals. The priests hired from outside finally performed rituals and made offerings at around 2 pm. The development has sent the chatters abuzz and sparked sharp resentment among the devotees.
Reports said that the priests and supakars of Kapilash shrine were being paid Rs 6,400 each per month by the Endowment department. Earlier, they were being paid Rs 5,400 each per month but their monthly salary was increased by Rs 1,000 from March following their repeated demands. However, they insisted on further pay hike.
A meeting was held at the district Collectorate to discuss their d emands and seek an amicable solution, Wednesday. The priests and the supakars reiterated their demand for pay hike in the meeting attended by the Collector and the Sub-collector who is also the endowment officer. The Collector made all possible efforts to placate them but the priests and supakars refused to yield till their demands were met. They tendered their resignations and walked out of the meeting. As a result, the daily rituals of the deity were affected Thursday. The first ritual which had to be completed within 10 am could not be solemnised.
Endowment inspector Pradyumna Tripathy confirmed the development stating that the three priests and six supakars insisted on pay hike refusing to relent and resigned from their service despite all efforts by the Collector to placate them. Sub-Collector-cum-endowment officer Snigdharani Dhal said that they are repeatedly demanding for pay hike. However, the rituals of the deity will never stop. The rituals were conducted after priests from Balaram temple were engaged for the purpose, she added.