Team Herald
PONDA: The ongoing tension at the Navdurga Devastan Madkai flared up on Monday morning as a dispute erupted between the temple priests and local villagers during the concluding ceremony of the jatrotsav. The altercation was captured on video and has since gone viral across social media where both the parties are seen fighting.
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Both parties took to the media to express their grievances. The temple priests, hailing from the Ghaisas family, filed a complaint against two local villagers, claiming they were obstructed while performing religious rituals. The priests asserted that they have the legal right to collect offerings, supported by a court order, but alleged that two villagers not only hindered their activities but also assaulted one of the priests.
In a cross complaint, a group of Madkai women, accompanied by other villagers, approached the Mardol Police Station to lodge a complaint against three priests. They alleged that they were pushed while assisting married women devotees who were queuing to make offerings (Ottis) at the temple. The women stated that they had set aside offerings for the convenience of the devotees, but claimed that the priests began to act in a manner reminiscent of Mahajans, humiliating them in the process.
The villagers emphasised their commitment to selflessly worshipping the deities, asserting that they have no desire for the temple’s income. They noted that for several years, the Mamlatdar has been responsible for collecting offerings from devotees.
The villagers expressed their frustration at being defamed without a proper understanding of the situation.
This is not the first time the temple has been at the centre of controversy. In 2016, tensions arose between villagers and Mahajans over the proposed replacement of an idol, leading to an agitation from the local community. Police were frequently deployed to manage the situation. Now, eight years later, the focus has shifted to a conflict between the villagers and the priests, despite previously harmonious relations.
