Bindusagar lake, where chandan yatra is being celebrated. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 24: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to ask for Rs 32,850 from the Lingaraj temple administration for illumination and repairing of the Jagati (the temple located in the centre of Bindusagar lake) for chandan yatra has drawn criticism from the servitors and temple administration alike.

The corporation, which is a member of the temple trust, has never asked for any money for this purpose on earlier occasions.

“The festival belongs to the people and it is ridiculous that the civic body has asked for money. The corporation is generating crores of money from plots that belong to Lord Lingaraj. It is very unfortunate and we strongly oppose it,” said president of Puja Panda Sevayat Samiti, Kasinath Pujapanda.

Every year, various government organisations provide free service during various festivals of the 11th Century shrine. The services include free water supply of drinking water by the Public Health Engineering Organisation and the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and free ambulance service by the authorities of Capital Hospital.

The Jagati, which comes into focus only during chandan yatra, has developed cracks on its walls through which plants are sprouting. The temple authorities had asked the civic authorities for repair help, as the civic body has engineering expertise.

MLA of Ekamra Ashok Panda said the Municipal Corporation Act of the Odisha government had special provisions for heritage structures, so the civic body should be involved with the traditional rituals of the Lord as the rituals were part of our cultural heritage. “The civic body has always been associated with the rituals of Lord Lingaraj. But this year the tradition will be broken and this is not a good thing for the city,” said Panda.

The temple administration has intimated all government organisations asking for various services to be rendered during the festival. Thousands of devotees are expected to throng the shrine during the 22-day festival that started today.

The BMC had also refused to carry out the illumination work of Mausi Maa temple during the recently-concluded Rukuna cart festival.

The Lingaraj temple administration too has criticised BMC’s decision to charge money and said they would pay for the illumination work themselves. “The BMC is a service rendering organisation, not a revenue-generating body. Even during the famous cart festival of Puri, the local body renders free service,” said executive officer of Lingaraj temple Abani Kumar Patnaik.

However, mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said he would look into the matter.

The temple administration has made all arrangements for the festival, which is among the most important rituals concerning Lord Lingaraj. During chandan yatra, Lord Lingaraj is carried to Jagati to take rest after a boat trip around the tank.