Conflict over Bishurii Puja at Nartiang Temple, Shillong

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The legacy of the 500-year old Nartiang temple in West Jaintia Hills has been disturbed by forces among the faithful.

The temple that stands as an epitome of the Jaintia kingdom ,with priest hailing from Odisha as the actual customary practioners of the age old practice, went bizarre in the conflict on who should take the rightful call on bishurii puja.

The district administration was forced to shut down the temple on Thursday following a clash of interest by the believers. This afternoon, the district magistrates held a meeting with the believers belonging to both sides. The Temple re-opened after both sides agreed that the rituals related to the puja should go in the manner as per the appointed deshmukh’s (priest) discretion. “The desmukh (priest) controversy has been for quite some time and it is for the followers to come to a general understanding”, stated a magistrate who opened up the mandir on Friday, adding, “The resolution should come from within the followers which we have tried to bring into an understanding.”

On Thursday, around 250 people from both sides gathered at the temple and tried to prevent each other from conducting the rituals. Again, it’s all about the priest. It is learnt that the successor is not in good health and another proposed one is in the phase of undertaking the mantle of one of the Durga shaktee peeths ,as considered in the Hindu mythology.