Guwahati, Sept. 15: As the city gears up to celebrate Vishwakarma Puja on Sunday, a conflict between the custodians of the only temple dedicated to the god in the Northeast and the family of its builder could put a spanner in observance of rituals.

The temple, located in the Kamakhya Gate area, was built by Mahabir Prasad Dhirasaria, on land donated by Bhabakanta Sarma in 1965.

Damodar, one of the sons of Mahabir, renovated the temple in its 50th year and celebrated the occasion in a grand way. The temple walls were covered with granite slabs and a marble idol was brought from Jaipur while the outer walls were painted in a golden hue.

The Dhirasaria family provides annual maintenance for the temple while the descendants of Sarma are custodians and priests.

Bhabakanta's grandson Joynath at present performs daily rituals. He also keeps the daily collection, pays the electricity bill and other expenses.

'During 1958-59, my father was engaged in construction of a new road to the top of Nilachal hills, which houses the Kamakhya temple. The construction required boulders to be blown up with explosives, resulting in chunks of rocks to rain down the foothills. Some superstitious locals spread the word that Goddess Kamakhya was angry for blasting parts of the hill and will punish those involved in the construction. Soon, truck drivers carrying construction material refused to operate, slowing down the work. Temple priests then advised my father to perform Vishwakarma Puja, since he is the god of construction and would pave the way for successful completion of the work. Accordingly, my father performed the puja and the work resumed,' Damodar said.

'Bhabakanta asked my father to build a permanent Vishwakarma temple on his land. The temple was completed in 1965. It is the only permanent Vishwakarma temple in the Northeast. Since then, our family has been maintaining the temple. I have been organising the annual puja after my father's demise. Recently, there was some misunderstanding with the custodians of the temple and Bhabakanta's grandson Joynath behaved badly with me. I don't have the zeal to organise the puja this year,' Damodar said.

Joynath could not be contacted for his comment.