BHUBANESWAR: Tension prevailed at famous Bhagabati Temple of Banpur after promulgation of prohibitory orders by Khurda district administration for adherence of Orissa High Court (HC) order banning animal sacrifice at the shrine.
Necessary “niti” (rituals) could not take place for the second consecutive evening since servitors abandoned them in protest. Khurda Police are standing guard on the temple premises to prevent any sacrifice since the goats brought for the purpose are still inside.
With Mahanavami rituals pending, Endowment Commissioner arrived today to intervene. The shrine is under the Endowment authorities.
The Endowment Commissioner held discussions with trust board members of the shrine and directed the authorities concerned to adhere to the High Court order strictly.
Khurda SP Pratap Mohanty said police have been camping on shrine campus since last night as some goats are locked inside. “We will guard against the sacrifice and see that the animals are brought out without any harm,” he said. Initially, the discussions with trust board members seemed to have made way for completion of yesterday’s rituals so that today’s “niti” could start, but in vain.
Following the discussion, a group of servitors and devotees went to the Daksha Kali Temple, located within a km, to begin the rituals under the impression that they can go ahead with animal sacrifice. As per practice, rituals start at the Daksha Kali Temple and then at the Bhagabati shrine.
However, as soon as police spotted them, the animals were seized. This led to protest and things hit a dead end again.
