Bhubaneswar/Digha: The use of the word ‘Dham’ in the advertisement issued by the West Bengal government for inauguration of the newly-built Jagannath temple in seaside town of Digha, has ruffled feathers in Odisha.
They are opposing the naming of Digha Jagannath temple as Jagannath Dham.
“Using “Dham” for a non-Dham is misleading. Plus, in their ad, they have also copied Neelachakra with Bana – the well-known logo of our Jagannatha Dhaam – used in our Puri Temple’s social media handles,” researcher Anita Sabat asserted.
Jagannath Puri is one of four ‘Dhams’ (most sacred places of pilgrimage for Hindus) in India. The others are Badrinath, Dwarka, and Rameswaram.
Non-Dham mustn’t use “Dham” in name.
This is misleading & creates confusion & misrepresentation.
Bengal copied our Puri Shree Jagannatha Temple.
But, why copy “Dham” as well?@JagannathaDhaam Puri is 1 of the 4 Dham
➡️Dham in name
&
➡️Nilachakra with Bana is appropriation. pic.twitter.com/Gk8iJGC20s— Anita Sabat – ଡ. ଅନୀତା ସାବତ (@anitaexplorer) April 30, 2025
Though the servitors of the Puri shrine have welcomed the opening of the new temple in Digha, they too have stressed the need to retain the exclusively with regards with cooking methods and traditions distinct to the 12th-century temple. Suar Mahasuar Nijog and Puspalaka Nijog have also cautioned its members against participating in rituals at the Digha temple.
While members of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog prepare ‘Mahaprasad’ at the Puri temple, the Puspalak Nijog members decorate the sibling deities of Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
Ahead of the inauguration of the Digha temple, which is a replica of the 12th-century shrine, BJP leader and the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday also asserted that ‘Puri Dham will remain Puri Dham’. “That place, the official name is the Jagannath Dham Cultural Center. It’s a cultural center, not temple. Don’t misguide, mislead the people of Bengal and specially the Hindus,” he told reporters.
In an open letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, Adhikari had earlier sought clarification on whether a Jagannath temple or a cultural centre has been built at Digha. “The tender documents of West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation reveal that ‘Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra’ has been built at Digha? You are inviting me to attend the ‘Prana Pratistha’ Ceremony. Will you clarify whether ‘Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra’ (cultural centre) is being inaugurated or Jagannath Temple is being inaugurated? You must reprint the Invitation Card with proper clarity. You can also send me a reply clarifying whether HIDCO has built a Temple or a Cultural Centre,” he wrote.
He also sought clarity on whether the temple would emulate Puri’s traditional restriction on the entry of non-Hindus.
In November 2023, Adhikari had stated that the Bengal government was not constructing a temple, but a “Cultural Centre” since the Constitution of India bars both the central and state governments and its agencies to spend the taxpayers money on building religious infrastructure. “The central government or the UP government aren’t bearing the construction cost of the Majestic Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerath Kshetra Trust is taking care of the expenses with donations from Hindus across the globe,” he posted on X.
The temple spanning 22 acres has been built at a cost of Rs 250 crore. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated it earlier in the day.
A moment to be cherished forever.
The first glimpse of Lord Jagannath enshrined in the Garbhagriha of the Jagannath Temple in Digha will remain etched in my heart.
I felt my spirit stir with the divine radiance emanating from the sacred idol. I had the privilege of performing… pic.twitter.com/EYLaTycYaN
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 30, 2025
Political analysts, on the other hand, view the Digha temple as a great electoral pitch for the ruling Trinamool Congress to counter the BJP’s “appeasement policy” criticism and consolidation of Hindu votes in the run-up to assembly polls next year.
