TNI Bureau: Serious mismanagement was reported at Kapilash Temple during the Maha Shivaratri 2026 celebrations, drawing concern from former MLA and Kapilash Suraksha Parishad convener Naveen Nanda. He termed the situation unfortunate and said it had affected the sanctity and dignity of the sacred shrine.
Nanda urged the district administration to identify those responsible and take immediate action against the officials concerned.
He highlighted several key issues faced by devotees during the festival. These included inadequate lighting arrangements, with many areas remaining in darkness, and traffic mismanagement despite the presence of a large number of devotees. He also alleged that an inexperienced agency had been assigned responsibility for lighting.
There was a lack of coordination among the administration, endowment department and police, resulting in temple rituals being delayed by five to six hours. The situation worsened due to restrictions on servitors, leading to unrest. Endowment officials reportedly apologised and assured that the issues would be resolved by February 20.
Devotees, especially women, faced serious inconvenience due to the absence of proper toilets and sanitation facilities. Parking mismanagement also caused heavy traffic congestion, with more than 500 motorcycles parked improperly. Shops along the hill road further worsened traffic flow.
Nanda also alleged irregularities in issuing entry passes, claiming that thousands of passes were distributed to acquaintances instead of volunteers. Basic infrastructure facilities were found lacking, with non-functional LED screens, damaged generators and no proper drinking water arrangements.
He further alleged that pilgrims’ accommodation facilities such as dharmashalas were closed, while the yatri niwas was being used like a hotel. There was also no designated room for ATM services, and the endowment officer was reportedly absent on the night of Maha Shivaratri.
Other concerns included poor maintenance of the temple library building, lack of a permanent administrator and the failure to reconstitute the advisory committee for several years.
Nanda said such mismanagement has damaged the image of the temple and urged the district administration to conduct an immediate inquiry and take corrective measures. He emphasised that Kapilash is a major religious centre and that protecting its dignity and ensuring proper arrangements for devotees is the responsibility of the authorities.
