Bhubaneswar, Jan. 28: The dispute over Dalits’ right to enter the Jagannath temple in Keredagada village of Kendrapara was resolved when scores of lower caste people entered the shrine for darshan today.

Since early morning, more than 200 Dalits thronged the temple and offered puja at the newly-built wooden barrier near the sanctum sanctorum. The higher castes, too, performed the rituals.

There was a show of mutual respect as people from both the groups offered flowers to the Lord, said a senior police officer. There was a huge rush of Dalit devotees in the evening hours too.

The day passed off without any untoward incidents, police said, adding that the upper and lower castes exchanged pleasantries on the temple premises.

Officials in the district administration heaved a sigh of relief. “We are glad that peace and harmony have returned to Keredagada,” said Kendrapara collector Kashinath Sahu, who visited the temple with the police superintendent today.

The Dalits’ entry into the temple in December last year had triggered protests from the upper castes. The administration later intervened to resolve the matter.